· PDF fileHigh Voltage Engineering 10EE73 Dept. Of EEE, SJBIT Page 1 High Voltage Engineering Syllabus PART - A UNIT - 1 INTRODUCTION: Introduction to HV

High Voltage Engineering 10EE73

Dept. Of EEE, SJBIT Page 1

High Voltage Engineering

Syllabus

PART - A

UNIT - 1

INTRODUCTION: Introduction to HV technology, advantages of transmitting electrical

power at high voltages, need for generating high voltages in laboratory. Important

applications of high voltage, Electrostatic precipitation, separation, painting and printing.

6 Hours

UNIT- 2 & 3

BREAKDOWN MECHANISM OF GASEOUS, LIQUID AND SOLID MATERIALS:

Classification of HV insulating media. Properties of important HV insulating media under

each category. Gaseous dielectrics: Ionizations: primary and secondary ionization processes.

Criteria for gaseous insulation breakdown based on Townsend’s theory. Limitations of

Townsend’s theory. Streamer’s theory breakdown in non uniform fields. Corona discharges.

Breakdown in electro negative gasses. Paschen’s law and its significance. Time lags of

Breakdown. Breakdown in solid dielectrics: Intrinsic Breakdown, avalanche breakdown,

thermal breakdown, and electro mechanic breakdown. Breakdown of liquids dielectric

dielectrics: Suspended particle theory, electronic Breakdown, cavity breakdown (bubble’s

theory), electro convection breakdown.

12 Hours

Subject Code : 10EE73 IA Marks : 25

No. of Lecture Hrs./

Week

: 04 Exam

Hours

: 03

Total No. of Lecture

Hrs.

: 52 Exam

Marks

: 100



UNIT- 4

GENERATION OF HIGH DC AND AC VOLTAGES:HV AC-HV transformer; Need

for cascade connection and working of transformers units connected in cascade. Series

resonant circuit- principle of operation and advantages. Tesla coil. HV DC- voltage doubler

circuit, cock croft- Walton type high voltage DC set. Calculation of high voltage regulation,

ripple and optimum number of stages for minimum voltage drop

8 Hours

PART - B

UNIT -5

GENERATION OF IMPULSE VOLTAGES AND CURRENTS: Introduction to standard

lightning and switching impulse voltages. Analysis of single stage impulse generator-

expression for Output impulse voltage. Multistage impulse generator working of Marx

impulse. Rating of impulse generator. Components of multistage impulse generator.

Triggering of impulse generator by three electrode gap arrangement. Triggering gap and

oscillograph time sweep circuits. Generation of switching impulse voltage. Generation of

high impulse current.

6 Hours

UNIT- 6

MEASUREMENT OF HIGH VOLTAGES: Electrostatic voltmeter-principle, construction

and limitation. Chubb and Fortescue method for HV AC measurement. Generating voltmeter-

Principle, construction. Series resistance micro ammeter for HV DC measurements. Standard

sphere gap measurements of HV AC, HV DC, and impulse voltages; Factors affecting the

measurements. Potential dividers-resistance dividers capacitance dividers mixed RC potential

dividers. Measurement of high impulse currents-Rogogowsky coil and Magnetic Links.

10Hours

UNIT -7

NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSULATION TESTING TECHNIQUES: Dielectric loss and

loss angle measurements using Schering Bridge, Transformer ratio Arms Bridge. Need for

discharge detection and PD measurements aspects. Factor affecting the discharge detection.

Discharge detection methods-straight and balanced methods.

6 Hours



UNIT- 8

HIGH VOLTAGE TESTS ON ELECTRICAL APPARATUS: Definitions of

terminologies, tests on isolators, circuit breakers, cables insulators and transformers

4 Hours



CONTENTS

Sl. No. Titles Page No.

1. UNIT – 1 INTRODUCTION 05

2. UNIT- 2 & 3BREAKDOWN MECHANISM OF GASEOUS,

LIQUID AND SOLID MATERIALS 13

3. UNIT-4 GENERATION OF HIGH DC AND AC VOLTAGES 50

4. UNIT -5 GENERATION OF IMPULSE VOLTAGES AND

CURRENTS 88

5 UNIT- 6 MEASUREMENT OF HIGH VOLTAGES 102

6. UNIT -7 NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSULATION

TESTING TECHNIQUES 139

7. UNIT- 8 HIGH VOLTAGE TESTS ON ELECTRICAL

APPARATUS 160



PART - A

UNIT - 1

INTRODUCTION: Introduction to HV technology, advantages of transmitting electrical

power at high voltages, need for generating high voltages in laboratory. Important

applications of high voltage, Electrostatic precipitation, separation, painting and printing.

4 Hours

Introduction to HV technology

A high-voltage, direct current (HV) electric power transmission system uses direct

current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more

common alternating current systems. For long-distance distribution, HV systems are less

expensive and suffer lower electrical losses. For shorter distances, the higher cost of DC

conversion equipment compared to an AC system may be warranted where other benefits of

direct current links are useful.

The modern form of HV transmission uses technology developed extensively in the

1930s in Sweden at ASEA. Early commercial installations included one in the Soviet

Union in 1951 between Moscow and Kashira, and a 10-20 MW system between Gotland and

mainland Sweden in 1954. The longest HV link in the world is currently the Inga-

Shaba 1,700 km (1,100 mi) 600 MW link connecting the Inga Dam to the Shaba copper mine,

in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction

1.1Generation and transmission of electric energy

The potential benefits of electrical energy supplied to a number of consumers from a

common generating system were recognized shortly after the development of the ‘dynamo’,

commonly known as the generator.

The first public power station was put into service in 1882 in London(Holborn). Soon a

number of other public supplies for electricity followed in other developed countries. The

early systems produced direct current at low-voltage, but their service was limited to highly

localized areas and were used mainly for electric lighting. The limitations of d.c. transmission

at low-voltage became readily apparent. By 1890 the art in the development of an a.c

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allm%C3%A4nna_Svenska_Elektriska_Aktiebolaget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashira

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inga-Shaba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inga-Shaba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inga_Dam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Congo



generator and transformer had been perfected to the point when a.c. supply was becoming

common, displacing the earlier d.c. system. The first major a.c. power station was

commissioned in 1890 at Deptford, supplying power to central London over a distance of 28

miles at 10 000 V. From the earliest ‘electricity’ days it was realized that to make full use of

economic generation the transmission network must be tailored to production with increased

interconnection for pooling of generation in an integrated system. In addition, the potential

development of hydroelectric power and the need to carry that power over long distances to

the centre's of consumption were recognized.

Power transfer for large systems, whether in the context of interconnection of large

systems or bulk transfers, led engineers invariably to think in terms of high system voltages.

Figure 4.1 lists some of the major a.c. transmission systems in chronological order of their

installations, with tentative projections to the end of this century.

The electric power (P) transmitted on an overhead a.c. line increases approximately with

the surge impedance loading or the square of the system’s operating voltage. Thus for a

transmission line of surge impedance ZLat an operating voltage V, the power transfer

capability is approximately P D V 2/ZL, which for an overhead a.c. system leads to the

following results:

The rapidly increasing transmission voltage level in recent decades is a result of the

growing demand for electrical energy, coupled with the development of large hydroelectric

power stations at sites far remote from centres of industrial activity and the need to transmit

the energy over long distances to the centres. However, environmental concerns have

imposed limitations on system expansion resulting in the need to better utilize existing

transmission systems. This has led to the development of Flexible A.C. Transmission

Systems (FACTS) which are based on newly developing high-power electronic devices such

as GTOs and IGBTs. Examples of FACTS systems include Thyristor Controlled Series

Capacitors and STATCOMS. The FACTS devices improve the utilization of a transmission

system by increasing power transfer capability.



Although the majority of the world’s electric transmission is carried on a.c. systems, high-

voltage direct current (HV) transmission by over headlines, submarine cables, and back-to-

back installations provides an attractive alternative for bulk power transfer. HV permits a

higher power density on a given right-of-way as compared to a.c. transmission and thus helps

the electric utilities in meeting the environmental requirements imposed on the transmission

of electric power. HV also provides an attractive technical and economic solution for

interconnecting asynchronous a.c. systems and for bulk power transfer requiring long cables.

Advantages of very high voltages for transmission Purpose

The following are the advantages of high voltage transmission of power.

1) Reduces volume of conductor material:

We know that I = P/(√3 * V*Cos Ф)

But R = L / a

Where = resistivity of transmission line

L = length of transmission line in meters

A = area of cross section of conductor material

Hence Total Power Loss,

W = 3 I2 * R

= 3 (P/(√3 * V*Cos Ф)) 2 * L / a

A = P2 L / (W V2Cos2Ф)

Therefore Total Volume of conductor = 3 * area * length

= 3 * P2 L2 / (W V2Cos2Ф)

From the above equation, the volume of conductor material is inversely proportional to

the square of the transmission voltage. In other words, the greater the transmission voltage

, lesser is the conductor material required.



2) Increases Transmission effiency:

Input power = P + total losses

= P + P2 L / ( V2Cos2Ф a)

Let J be the current density, therefore a = I/ J

Then input power = P + P2 L J / (V2Cos2Ф) * 1/I

Transmission efficiency = Output Power / Input Power

= P / (P [ 1+√3 J L/ V cosФ])

Since J, ,L are constants, therefore transmissions efficiency increases when line

voltage is increased.

3) Decrease percentage line drop:

Line drop = IR = I * L / a

= I * L * J/I = L J

% line drop = J L / V * 100

As J, and L are constants, therefore percentage line drop decreases when the

transmission voltage increases.

Need for Generating High Voltages in Laboratory:

1) High ac voltage of one million volts or even more are required for testing power

apparatus rated for extra high transmission voltages (400KV system and above).

2) High impulse voltages are required testing purposes to simulate over voltages that

occur in power systems due to lighting or switching surges.

3) Main concern of high voltages is for the insulation testing of various components in

power system for different types of voltages namely power frequency, ac high

frequency, switching or lightning impulses.

Applications of High Voltages:



1) High voltages are applied in laboratories in nuclear research, in particle accelerators

and Van de Graff generators.

2) Voltages upto 100KV are used in electrostatic precipitators.

3) X-Ray equipment for medical and industrial application also uses high voltages.

In a number of applications HV is more effective than AC transmission. Examples include:

Undersea cables, where high capacitance causes additional AC losses. (e.g., 250 km

Baltic Cable between Sweden and Germany, the 600 km NorNed cable between Norway

and the Netherlands, and 290 km Basslink between the Australian Mainland and

Tasmania[13])

Endpoint-to-endpoint long-haul bulk power transmission without intermediate 'taps', for

example, in remote areas

Increasing the capacity of an existing power grid in situations where additional wires are

difficult or expensive to install

Power transmission and stabilization between unsynchronised AC distribution systems

Connecting a remote generating plant to the distribution grid, for example Nelson River

Bipole

Stabilizing a predominantly AC power-grid, without increasing prospective short circuit

current

Reducing line cost. HV needs fewer conductors as there is no need to support multiple

phases. Also, thinner conductors can be used since HV does not suffer from the skin effect

Facilitate power transmission between different countries that use AC at differing

voltages and/or frequencies

Synchronize AC produced by renewable energy sources

Long undersea high voltage cables have a high electrical capacitance, since the

conductors are surrounded by a relatively thin layer of insulation and a metal sheath. The

geometry is that of a long co-axial capacitor. Where alternating current is used for cable

transmission, this capacitance appears in parallel with load. Additional current must flow in

the cable to charge the cable capacitance, which generates additional losses in the conductors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_cable

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Cable


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NorNed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basslink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current#cite_note-12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_grid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_River_Bipole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_River_Bipole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospective_short_circuit_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospective_short_circuit_current

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_effect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_voltage_cable

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor



of the cable. Additionally, there is a dielectric loss component in the material of the cable

insulation, which consumes power.

When, however, direct current is used, the cable capacitance is only charged when the

cable is first energized or when the voltage is changed; there is no steady-state additional

current required. For a long AC undersea cable, the entire current-carrying capacity of the

conductor could be used to supply the charging current alone. This limits the length of AC

cables. DC cables have no such limitation. Although some DC leakage current continues to

flow through the dielectric, this is very small compared to the cable rating.

HV can carry more power per conductor because, for a given power rating, the

constant voltage in a DC line is lower than the peak voltage in an AC line. In AC power,

the root mean square (RMS) voltage measurement is considered the standard, but RMS is

only about 71% of the peak voltage. The peak voltage of AC determines the actual insulation

thickness and conductor spacing. Because DC operates at a constant maximum voltage, this

allows existing transmission line corridors with equally sized conductors and insulation to

carry 100% more power into an area of high power consumption than AC, which can lower

costs.

Because HV allows power transmission between unsynchronized AC distribution

systems, it can help increase system stability, by preventing cascading failures from

propagating from one part of a wider power transmission grid to another. Changes in load

that would cause portions of an AC network to become unsynchronized and separate would

not similarly affect a DC link, and the power flow through the DC link would tend to stabilize

the AC network. The magnitude and direction of power flow through a DC link can be

directly commanded, and changed as needed to support the AC networks at either end of the

DC link. This has caused many power system operators to contemplate wider use of HV

technology for its stability benefits alone.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of HV are in conversion, switching, control, availability and maintenance.

HV is less reliable and has lower availability than AC systems, mainly due to the extra

conversion equipment. Single pole systems have availability of about 98.5%, with about a

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductor_(material)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_mean_square

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascading_failure



third of the downtime unscheduled due to faults. Fault redundant bipole systems provide high

availability for 50% of the link capacity, but availability of the full capacity is about 97% to

98%.

The required static inverters are expensive and have limited overload capacity. At

smaller transmission distances the losses in the static inverters may be bigger than in an AC

transmission line. The cost of the inverters may not be offset by reductions in line

construction cost and lower line loss. With two exceptions, all former mercury rectifiers

worldwide have been dismantled or replaced by thyristor units. Pole 1 of the HV scheme

between the North and South Islands of New Zealand still uses mercury arc rectifiers, as does

Pole 1 of the Vancouver Island link in Canada.

In contrast to AC systems, realizing multi-terminal systems is complex, as is

expanding existing schemes to multi-terminal systems. Controlling power flow in a multi-

terminal DC system requires good communication between all the terminals; power flow

must be actively regulated by the inverter control system instead of the inherent impedance

and phase angle properties of the transmission line.[15] Multi-terminal lines are rare. One is in

operation at the Hydro Québec - New England transmission from Radisson to Sandy

Pond.[16] Another example is the Sardinia-mainland Italy link which was modified in 1989 to

also provide power to the island of Corsica.

High voltage DC circuit breakers are difficult to build because some mechanism must

be included in the circuit breaker to force current to zero, otherwise arcing and contact wear

would be too great to allow reliable switching.

Operating a HV scheme requires many spare parts to be kept, often exclusively for

one system as HV systems are less standardized than AC systems and technology changes

faster.

Costs of high voltage DC transmission

Normally manufacturers such as AREVA, Siemens and ABB do not state specific

cost information of a particular project since this is a commercial matter between the

manufacturer and the client.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_inverter_plant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyristor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_arc_rectifier



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HVDC_Italy-Corsica-Sardinia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_breaker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areva

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asea_Brown_Boveri



Costs vary widely depending on the specifics of the project such as power rating,

circuit length, overhead vs. underwater route, land costs, and AC network improvements

required at either terminal. A detailed evaluation of DC vs. AC cost may be required

where there is no clear technical advantage to DC alone and only economics drives the

selection.

However some practitioners have given out some information that can be reasonably

well relied upon:

For an 8 GW 40 km link laid under the English Channel, the following are approximate

primary equipment costs for a 2000 MW 500 kV bipolar conventional HV link (exclude

way-leaving, on-shore reinforcement works, consenting, engineering, insurance, etc.)

Converter stations ~£110M

Subsea cable + installation ~£1M/km

UNIT- 2 & 3

BREAKDOWN MECHANISM OF GASEOUS, LIQUID AND SOLID

MATERIALS:Classification of HV insulating media. Properties of important HV insulating

media under each category. Gaseous dielectrics: Ionizations: primary and secondary

ionization processes. Criteria for gaseous insulation breakdown based on Townsend’s theory.



Limitations of Townsend’s theory. Streamer’s theory breakdown in non uniform fields.

Corona discharges. Breakdown in electro negative gasses. Paschen’s law and its significance.

Time lags of Breakdown. Breakdown in solid dielectrics: Intrinsic Breakdown, avalanche

breakdown, thermal breakdown, and electro mechanic breakdown. Breakdown of liquids

dielectric dielectrics: Suspended particle theory, electronic Breakdown, cavity breakdown

(bubble’s theory), electro convection breakdown.

12 Hours

INTRODUCTION

With ever increasing demand of electrical energy, the power system is growing both

in size and com- plexities. The generating capacities of power plants and transmission voltage

are on the increase because of their inherent advantages. If the transmission voltage is

doubled, the power transfer capability of the system becomes four times and the line losses

are also relatively reduced. As a result, it becomes a stronger and economical system. In India,

we already have 400 kV lines in operation and 800 kV lines are being planned. In big cities,

the conventional transmission voltages (110 kV–220 kV etc.) are being used as distribution

voltages because of increased demand.

Classification of HV Insulating Media:

The most important material used in high voltage apparatus is the insulation The

principle media of insulation used are Gases/ Vaccum, Liquid and Solid or a combination of

these (Composite).The dielectric strength of an insulating material is defined as the maximum

dielectric stress which the material can withstand.

It is also the voltage at which the current starts increasing to very high values. The electric

breakdown strength of insulating materials depends on the following parameters

1) Pressure

2) Temperature

3) Humidity

4) Field Configurations

5) Nature of applied voltage



6) Imperfection in dielectric materials

7) Materials of electrodes

8) Surface conditions of electrodes etc

Properties of important HV insulating media

The various properties required for providing insulation and arc interruption are:

(i) High dielectric strength.

(ii) Thermal and chemical stability

(iii) Non-inflammability.

(iv) High thermal conductivity. This assists cooling of current carrying conductors

immersed in the gas and also assists the arc-extinction process.

(v) Arc extinguishing ability. It should have a low dissociation temperature, a short thermal

time constant (ratio of energy contained in an arc column at any instant to the rate of energy

dissipation at the same instant) and should not produce conducting products such as carbon

during arcing.

The three most important properties of liquid dielectric are

(i) The dielectric strength

(ii) The dielectric constant and

(iii) The electrical conductivity

Other important properties are viscosity, thermal stability, specific gravity, flash point

etc. The most important factors which affect the dielectric strength of oil are the, presence of

fine water droplets and the fibrous impurities. The presence of even 0.01% water in oil brings

down the dielectric strength to 20% of the dry oil value and the presence of fibrous impurities

brings down the dielectric strength much sharply. Therefore, whenever these oils are used for

providing electrical insulation, these should be free from moisture, products of oxidation and

other contaminants.



Table: Dielectric properties of some liquids

S.No.

Property

Transformer

Oil

Capacitor

Oil

Cable

Oil

Silicone

Oil

4.

4.

5.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Relativepermittivity50Hz

Breakdown strength at

20°C4.5mm1min

(a)Tan50Hz

(b)1kHz Resistivity

ohm-cm

Maximum permissible water

content(ppm)

Acidvaluemg/gmofKOH

Sponification mgofKOH/gm

of oil

Specificgravityat20°C

4.2–4.3

12kV/mm

10–3

5×10–4

1012 –1013

50

NIL

0.01

0.89

4.1

18kV/mm

4.5×10–4

10–4

1013 –1014

50

NIL

0.01

0.89

4.3–4.6

25kV/mm

2×10–3

10–4

1012 –1013

50

NIL

0.01

0.93

4.7–5.0

35kV/mm

10–3

10–4

4.5×1014

<40

NIL

<0.01

4.0–4.1



Table: Dielectric properties of some solids

Material Maximum thermal voltage in

MV/cm

Ceramics

Organic materials

Crystals

Quartz

HV Steatite

LF Steatite

High grade porcelain

Ebonite

Polythene

Polystyrene

Polystyreneat1MHz

Acrylicresins

Mica muscovite

Rock salt

Perpendiculars to axis

Parallel to axis

Impure

d.c. a.c.

—

—

—

24

38

12000

66

—

9.8

4.5

4.8

4.45–4.75

5.5

5.0

0.05

0.3–4.0

7–18

4.4

—

—

4.2

TOWNSEND’SFIRSTIONIZATIONCOEFFICIENT

Consider a parallel plate capacitor having gas as an

insulating medium and separated by a distance d as

shown in Fig.4.4. When no electric field is setup

between the plates, a state of equilibrium exists

between the state of electron and positive ion

generation due to the decay processes. This state of

equilibrium will be disturbed moment a high

electricfield applied. Fig.4.1Parallelplatecapacitor

The variation of current as a function of

voltage was studied by Townsend He found that the

current at first increased proportionally as the

voltage is increased and then remains constant, at

I0which corresponds to the saturation current. At

still higher voltages, the current increases

exponentially.

Thevariationofcurrentas

afunctionofvoltageisshowninFig.4.

4.



The exponential increase in current is due to ionization of gas by electron collision. As the

voltage increases V/d increases and hence the electrons are accelerated more and more and

between collisions these acquire higher kinetic energy and, therefore, knockout more and

more electrons.

To explain the exponential rise in current, Townsend introduced a coefficient α

known as Townsend’s first ionization coefficient and is defined as the number of electrons

produced by an electron per unit length of path in the direction of field. Let n0 be the

number of electons leaving the cathode and when these have moved through a distance x

from the cathode ,these become n. Now when these n electrons move through a distance dx

produce additional dn electrons due to collision. There- fore,

dn=ndx

dn or

n dx

or lnn=x+A

Nowatx=0,n=n0.Therefore, lnn

0

=A

or lnn=x+lnn0

or ln n

n0

Atx=d,n=n0ed.Therefore,intermsofcurrent

I=I0

ed

x



The term eαd is called the electron avalanche and it represents the number of

electrons produced by one electron in travelling from cathode to anode.

CATHODE PROCESSES—SECONDARY EFFECTS

Cathode plays an important role in gas discharges by supplying electrons for the

initiation, sustenance and completion of a discharge. In a metal, under normal condition,

electrons are not allowed to leave the surface as they are tied together due to the electrostatic

force between the electrons and the ions in the lattice. The energy required to knock out an

electron from a Fermi level is known as the work function and is a characteristic of a given

material. There are various ways in which this energy can be supplied to release the electron.

Thermionic Emission: At room temperature, the conduction electrons of the metal do

not have sufficient thermal energy to leave the surface. However, if the metals are heated to

temperature 1500°K and above, the electrons will receive energy from the violent thermal

lattice in vibration sufficient to cross the surface barrier and leave the metal. After extensive

investigation of electron emission from metals at high temperature, Richardson developed an

expression for the saturation current density Js as

Which shows that the saturation current density increases with decrease in work

function and increase in temperature. Substituting the values of

me,Kandh,Aisfoundtobe120×104A/m2K4.However, the experimentally obtained value

ofAislowerthanwhatispredictedbytheequationabove.Thediscrepancyisduetothesurfaceimpe

rfectionsandsurfaceimpuritiesofthemetal.Thegaspresentbetween

theelectrodeaffectsthethermionicemissionasthegasmaybeabsorbedbythemetalandcanalso

damagetheelectrodesurfaceduetocontinuousimpingingofions.Also,theworkfunctionisobser

ved

tobeloweredduetothermalexpansionofcrystalstructure.Normallymetalswithlowworkfunctio

n are used as cathode for thermionic emission.

FieldEmission:If a strong electric field is applied between the electrodes, the effective

workfunction of the cathode decreases and is given by

W=W–3/2E1/2

And the saturation current density is then given by

Js=AT2e–W/KT



ThisisknownasSchottkyeffectandholdsgoodoverawiderangeoftemperatureandelectric

fields.Calculationshaveshownthatatroomtemperaturethetotalemissionisstilllowevenwhenfi

elds oftheorderof105 V/cm are applied. However, if the field is of the order of107 V/cm,

the emission current as been observed to be much larger than the calculated thermionic

value. This can be explained only through quantum mechanics at these high surface

gradients, the cathode surface barrier becomes very thin and quantum tunneling of electrons

occurs which leads to field emission even at room temperature.

TOWNSENDSECONDIONISATIONCOEFFICIENT

From the equation

I=I0 ex

We have, taking log on both the sides.

Fig.4.3VariationofgapcurrentwithelectrodespacinginuniformE

lnI =lnI0 +x

This is a straight line equation with slope and intercept ln I0 asshowninFig.4.3ifforagiven pressure p, E is kept constant.

Townsendinhisearlierinvestigationshadobservedthatthecurrentinparallelplategapin-

creased more rapidly with increase in voltage as compared to the one given by the above

equation. To explain this departure from linearity, Townsend suggested that as econd

mechanism must be affecting the current. He postulated that the additional current must be

due to the presence of positive ions and the photons. The positive ions will liberate electrons

by collision with gas molecules and by bombardment against the cathode. Similarly, the

photons will also release electrons after collision with gas molecules and from the cathode

after photon impact.

Let us consider the phenomenon of self-sustained discharge where the electrons are

released from the cathode by positive ion bombardment.



d

Letn0 bethenumberofelectronsreleasedfromthecathodebyultravioletradiation, n+ the

number of electrons released from the cathode due to positive ion bombardment and n the

number of electronsreachingtheanode.Letβ,knownasTownsendsecondionizationco-

efficientbedefinedasthenumberofelectronsreleasedfromcathodeperincidentpositiveion,The

n

n=(n0+n

+)ed

Now total number of electrons released from the cathode is (n0 +n+)and those

reaching the an ode are n, therefore, the number of electrons released from the gas=n–

(n0+n+),and corresponding to each electron released from the gas there will be one positive

ion and assuming each positive ion releases effective electrons from the cathode then

n+

=[n–(n0 +n

+)] or

n+

=n–n0 –n

+ or

(1+)n+

=(n–n0)

(n n0)

or n+

=

1

Substituting n+

in the previous expression for n,wehave

L (nn0)Od

(1)n

nn

n=NMn0

1v QP

e =

0 0

1ed

n n

=0 ed

1

or (n+n)=n0 ed+ned

or n+n–ned=n0ed

or n[1+–ed]=n0ed

ned

or n= 0

1n(1ed

)

ned

= 0

1(ed 1)

Intermsofcurrent

I= I0 e



1(ed 1)

)d

Where βrepresents the number of ion pairs produced by positive ion travelling 1cm path in

the direction of field. Townsend’s original suggestion that the positive ion after collision

with gas molecule releases electron does not hold good as ions rapidly lose energy in elastic

collision and ordinarily are unable to gain sufficient energy from the electric field to because

ionization on collision with gas molecules or atoms.

In practice positive ions, photons and metastable, all the three may participate in the

process of

ionization.Itdependsupontheexperimentalconditions.Theremaybemorethanonemechanism

producing secondary ionization in the discharge gap and, therefore, it is customary to

express the net secondary ionization effect by a single coefficient v and represent the current

by the above equation keeping in mind that may represent one or more of these possible

mechanism.

TOWNSENDBREAKDOWNMECHANISM

Whenvoltagebetweentheanodeandcathodeisincreased,thecurrentattheanodeisgivenby

Ied

I= 0

1(ed 1)

The current becomes infinite if

1–(ed–1)=0

or (ed –1)=1 or

ed1Sinceno

rmally ed1

the currentintheanodeequalsthecurrentintheexternalcirrcuit.Theoreticallythecurrentbecomes

infinitelylargeundertheabovementionedconditionbutpracticallyitislimitedbytheresistanceofthe

externalcircuitandpartiallybythevoltagedropinthearc.Theconditioned=1definesthecondition

forbeginningofsparkandisknownastheTownsendcriterionforsparkformationorTownsendbreak-

downcriterion.Usingtheaboveequations,thefollowingthreeconditionsarepossible.

(1) ed=1

The number of ion pairs produced in the gap by the passage of arc electron avalanche is suffi-

ciently large and the resulting positive ions on bombarding the cathode are able to release one

secondary electron and so cause are petition of the avalanche process. The discharge is then said

to be self-sustained as the discharge will sustain itself even if the source producing I0is removed.

Therefore, the condition eddefines the threshold sparking condition.



(2) ed>1

Here ionization produced by successive avalanche is cumulative.The spark discharge grows more

rapidly the more ed exceeds unity.

(3) ed<1

Here the current I is not self-sustained i.e., on removal of the source the current I0

ceases to flow.

<ed.Whenevertheconcentrationexceeds108,the avalanche current is followed by steep rise in

currentandbreakdownofthegaptakesplace.Theweakeningoftheavalancheatlowerconcentration

andrapidgrowthofavalancheathigherconcentrationhavebeenattributedtothemodificationofthe

Electricfield E0duetothespacechargefield.Fig.4.4showstheelectricfieldaroundanavalancheasit progresses

along the gap and the resultant field i.e., the superposition of the space charge field and the

Original field E0.Since the electrons have higher mobility, the space charge at the head of the avalanche

isconsideredtobenegativeandisassumedtobeconcentratedwithinasphericalvolume.Itcanbeseen from

Fig.4.4 that the filed at the head of the avalanche is strengthened.The field between the two assumed

charge centres i.e., the electrons and positive ions is decreased as the field due to the charge centres

opposes the mainfield E0

and again the field between the positive space charge centre and the

Cathode is strengthenedasthespacechargefieldaidsthemainfield E0

inthisregion.Ithasbeen observed that

if the charge carrier number exceeds 106,the field distortion becomes noticeable. If the distortion of field

is of 1%, it would lead to a doubling of the avalanche but as the field distortionis only near the head of

the avalanche, it does not have a significance on the discharge phenomenon. However,if the charge

carrier exceeds108,the space charge field becomes almost of thesamemagni-

Tudeas the mainfield E0 and hence it may lead to initiation of a streamer. The space chargefield, therefore,

plays a very importantroleinthemechanismofelectricdischargeinanon-uniformgap.

whereXcisthelengthoftheavalancheparthinfielddirectionwhenitreachesthecriticalsize.Ifthe

gaplengthd<Xc,theinitiationofstreamerisunlikely.

RaetherandMeekhaveproposedthatwhentheavalancheinthegapreachesacertaincritical

sizethecombinedspacechargefieldandexternallyappliedfield E0

leadtointenseionizationand

excitationofthegasparticlesinfrontoftheavalanchehead.Thereisrecombinationofelectronsand

positiveionresultingingenerationofphotonsandthesephotonsinturngeneratesecondaryelectrons

bythephotoionizationprocess.Theseelectronsundertheinfluenceoftheelectricfielddevelopinto

secondaryavalanchesasshowninFig.4.5.Sincephotonstravelwithvelocityoflight,theprocess

leadstoarapiddevelopmentofconductionchannelacrossthegap.



r

E

Fig.4.5Secondaryavalancheformationbyphotoelectrons

Raetherafterthoroughexperimentalinvestigationdevelopedanempiricalrelationforthestreamer

sparkcriterionoftheform

Er

xc =17.7+lnx

c + ln

0

whereEr istheradialfieldduetospacechargeandE

0 istheexternallyappliedfield.

NowfortransformationofavalancheintoastreamerEr E

Therefore, xc =17.7+lnx

c

For auniformfieldgap,breakdownvoltagethroughstreamermechanismisobtainedonthe

assumptionthatthetransitionfromavalanchetostreameroccurswhentheavalanchehasjustcrossed

thegap.Theequationabove,therefore,becomes

d =17.7+lnd

Whenthecriticallengthxcdminimumbreakdownbystreamermechanismisbroughtabout.

TheconditionXc =dgivesthesmallestvalueoftoproducestreamerbreakdown.

Meeksuggestedthatthetransitionfromavalanchetostreamertakesplacewhentheradialfield

aboutthepositivespacechargeinanelectronavalancheattainsavalueoftheorderoftheexternally

appliedfield.Heshowedthatthevalueoftheradialfieldcanbeotainedbyusingtheexpression.

ex

E =5.3×10–7 volts/cm. (x/P)1/2

wherexis the distance in cm which the avalanche has progressed,pthe gas pressure in Torr and the

TownsendcoefficientofionizationbyelectronscorrespondingtotheappliedfieldE. The minimum

breakdownvoltageisassumedtocorrespondtotheconditionwhentheavalanchehascrossedthegap

oflengthdandthespacechargefieldEr



CORONADISCHARGES

Iftheelectricfieldisuniformandifthefieldisincreasedgradually,justwhenmeasurableion

ization begins,theionizationleadstocompletebreakdownofthegap.However,innon-

uniformfields,before the spark or break down of the medium takes place, there are many

manifestations in the form of visual and audible discharges.These discharges are known

as Corona discharges. Infact Corona is defined as a self-sustained

electricdischargeinwhichthefieldintensifiedionizationislocalisedonlyovera

portionofthedistance(non-uniformfields)betweentheelectrodes.Thephenomenonis of

particular importanceinhighvoltageengineeringwheremostofthefieldsencounteredarenon-

uniformfields

unlessofcoursesomedesignfeaturesareinvolvedtomakethefiledalmostuniform.Coronaisresp

onsibleforpowerlossandinterferenceofpowerlineswiththecommunicationlinesascoronafreq

uency

liesbetween20Hzand20kHz.Thisalsoleadstodeteriorationofinsulationbythecombinedaction

of

thedischargeionbombardingthesurfaceandtheactionofchemicalcompoundsthatareformedby

the coronadischarge.

Whenavoltagehigherthanthecriticalvoltageisappliedbetweentwoparallelpolishedwire

theglowisquiteeven.Afteroperationforashorttime,reddishbeadsortuftsformalongthewire,

while aroundthesurfaceofthewirethereisabluishwhiteglow.Iftheconductorsareexamined

throughastroboscope,sothatonewireisalwaysseenwhenatagivenhalfofthewave,itisnoticed

thatthereddishtuftsorbeadsareformedwhentheconductorisnegativeandasmootherbluishwhit

glowwhen theconductorispositive.Thea.c.coronaviewedthroughastroboscopehasthesame

appearance as direct current corona. As corona phenomenon is initiated a hissing noise is

heard and ozone gas is formed which can be detected by its characteristic colour.

When the voltage applied corresponds to the critical disruptive voltage, corona

phenomenon starts but it is not visible because the charge dion sin the air must receives

finite energy to cause

furtherionizationbycollisions.Foraradialfield,itmustreachagradient(visualcoronagradient)g



atthesurfaceoftheconductortocauseagradientg0,finitedistanceawayfromthesurfaceofthecon

ductor.Thedistancebetweeng0 andgv

iscalledtheenergydistance.AccordingtoPeek,thisdistanceisequalto(r+0.301r)fortwoparallel

conductorsand(r+0.308 r)forcoaxialconductors.From thisitisclearthatgv is

notconstantasg0 is, andisafunctionofthesizeoftheconductor.Theelectric

fieldintensityfortwoparallelwiresisgivenas

Investigationwithpoint-planegapsinairhaveshownthatwhenpointispositive,thecorona

currentincreasessteadilywithvoltage.Atsufficientlyhighvoltage,currentamplificationincreases

rapidlywithvoltageuptoacurrentofabout10–7A,afterwhichthecurrentbecomespulsedwithrepeti-

tionfrequencyofabout1kHzcomposedofsmallbursts.Thisformofcoronaisknownasburstcorona.

Theaveragecurrentthenincreasessteadilywithappliedvoltage,leadingtobreakdown.

Withpoint-planegapinairwhennegativepolarityvoltageisappliedtothepointandthevoltage

exceedstheonsetvalue,thecurrentflowsinvaryregularpulsesknownasTrichelpulses.Theonset

voltageisindependentofthegaplengthandisnumericallyequaltotheonsetofstreamersunder

positivevoltageforthesamearrangement.Thepulsefrequencyincreaseswithvoltageandisafunction of

theradiusofthecathode,thegaplengthandthepressure.Adecreaseinpressuredecreasesthe

frequencyofthepulses.Itshouldbenotedthat

thebreakdownvoltagewithnegativepolarity

is higherthanwithpositivepolarityexceptat low

pressure. Therefore, under alternating

powerfrequencyvoltagethebreakdownof non-

uniform field gap invariably takes place during

the positive half cycle of the voltage wave.

Fig.4.8givescomparisionbetweenthe positive and negative point-plane gap break- town

characteristics measured in air as a function of gas



6

pressure.Whenthespacingissmallthebreakdowncharacteristicsforthetwopolaritiesnearlycoincide

andnocoronastabilisedregionisobserved.Asthespacingisincreased,thepositivecharacteristics

displaythedistincthighcoronabeakdownuptoapressureofabout7bars,followedbyasuddendrop in

breakdownstrengths.Underthenegativepolarity,thecoronastabilisedregionextendstomuch

higherpressures.

Fig.4.9showsthecoronainceptionandbreakdownvoltagesofthesphere-planearrangement.

Fromthefigure,itisclearthat—

(i)Forsmallspacings(Zone–I),thefieldisuniformandthebreakdownvoltagedependsmainly

onthegapspacing.

(ii) Inzone–II,wherethespacingisrelativelylarger,theelectricfieldisnon-uniformandthe

breakdownvoltagedependsonboththespherediameterandthespacing.

(iii)Forstilllargerspacings(Zone-III)thefieldisnon-uniformandthebreakdownispreceded

bycoronaandiscontrolledonlybythespacing.Thecoronainceptionvoltagemainlyde-

pendsonthespherediameter.

Fig.4.9Breakdownandcoronainceptioncharacteristicsforspheresofdifferent

diametersinsphere-planegapgeometry

BreakdowninElectronegativeGases

SF6,hasexcellentinsulatingstrengthbecauseofitsaffinityforelectrons(electronegativit

y)i.e.,when-

everafreeelectroncollideswiththeneutralgasmoleculetoformnegativeion,theelectronisabsor

bed by the neutral gas molecule. The attachment of the electron with the neutral gas

molecule may occur intwoways:

SF6 +eSF–

SF6

+eSF5

–+F

Thenegativeionsformedarerelativelyheavierascomparedtofreeelectronsand,therefore

,

underagivenelectricfieldtheionsdonotattainsufficientenergytoleadcumulativeionizationinth

e gas.



FI L O

Thus,theseprocessesrepresentaneffectivewayofremovingelectronsfromthespacewhich

otherwisewouldhavecontributedtoformelectronavalanche.Thisproperty,therefore,givesriset

o

veryhighdielectricstrengthforSF6.Thegasnotonlypossessesagooddielectricstrengthbutithast

heuniquepropertyoffastrecombinationafterthesourceenergizingthesparkisremoved.

The dielectricstrengthofSF6atnormalpressureandtemperatureis2–

3timesthatofairandat2atmitsstrengthiscomparablewiththetransformeroil.AlthoughSF6

isavapour,itcanbeliquifiedatmoderatepressureandstoredinsteelcylinders.EventhoughSF6

hasbetterinsulatingandarc-

quenclingpropertiesthanairatanequalpressure,ithastheimportantdisadvantagethatitcannotbe

usedmuchabove14kg/cm2 unlessthegasisheatedtoavoidliquifaction.

HESPARKINGPOTENTIAL—PASCHEN’SLAW

TheTownsend’sCriteri

on

(ed–1)=1

enables theevaluationofbreakdownvoltageofthegapbytheuseofappropriatevaluesof/pand

correspondingtothevaluesE/pwhenthecurrentistoolowtodamagethecathodeandalso thespace

chargedistortionsareminimum.Acloseagreementbetweenthecalculatedandexperimentallydeter-

minedvaluesisobtainedwhenthegapsareshortorlongandthepressureisrelativelylow.

Anexpressionforthebreakdownvoltageforuniformfieldgapsasafunctionofgaplengthand

gaspressurecanbederivedfromthethresholdequationbyexpressingtheionizationcoefficient/pas

afunctionoffieldstrengthEandgaspressurepi.e.,

f

F EI p p

Substitutingthis,wehave

ef(E/p)pd=11

Takinglnboththesides,wehave

E 1 f pdln 1 Ksay

p



b

Vb

ForuniformfieldE= d.

FV I Therefore, f .pdK

pd



F I

pK

V K

or f b

pdKJpd

or Vb

=F(p.d)

Thisshowsthatthebreakdownvoltageofauniformfieldgapisauniquefunctionoftheproduct

ofgaspressureandthegaplengthforaparticulargasandelectrodematerial.Thisrelationisknownas

Paschen’slaw.Thisrelationdoesnotmeanthatthebreakdownvoltageisdirectlyproportionalto productpd

eventhoughitisfoundthatforsomeregionoftheproductpdtherelationislineari.e.,the breakdown voltage

varieslinearlywiththeproductpd.Thevariationoveralargerangeisshownin Fig.4.6.

Fig.4.6Paschen’slawcurve

LetusnowcomparePaschen’slawandtheTownsend’scriterionforsparkpotential.Wedraw

theexperimentallyobtainedrelationbetweentheionizationcoefficient/pandthefieldstrengthf(E/p)

FEbI

foragivengas.Fig.4.7.HerepointGH Jrepresentstheonsetofionization. c

Fig.4.7TherelationbetweenTownsend’scriterionforspark=kandPaschen’scriterion



NowtheTownsend’scriteriond=Kcanbere-

writtenaThisisequationtoastraightlinewithslopeequaltoK/VdependinguponthevalueofK.The

higherthevoltagethesmallertheslopeandtherefore,thislinewillintersecttheionizationcurveattwo

pointse.g.,AandBinFig.4.7.Therefore,theremustexisttwobreakdownvoltagesataconstant pressure

(p=constant),onecorrespondingtothesmallvalueofgaplengthi.e.,higherE(E=V/d) i.e., point

Bandtheothertothelongergaplengthi.e.,smallerEorsmallerE/pi.e.,thepointA.Atlow

valuesofvoltageVtheslopeofthestraightlineislargeand,therefore,thereisnointersectionbetween

thelineandthecurve4.ThismeansnobreakdownoccurswithsmallvoltagesbelowPaschen’smini-

mumirrespectiveofthevalueofpd.ThepointConthecurveindicatesthelowestbreakdownvoltage

ortheminimumsparkingpotential.ThesparkovervoltagescorrespondingtopointsA,B,C are shown

inthePaschen’scurveinFig.4.6.

Thefactthatthereexistsaminimumsparkingpotentialintherelationbetweenthesparking

potentialandthegaplengthassumingptobeconstantcanbeexplainedquantitativelybyconsidering

theefficiencyofionizationofelectronstraversingthegapwithdifferentelectronenergies.Assuming

thattheTownsend’ssecondionizationcoefficientissmallforvaluespd>(pd)min.,electronscross-

ingthegapmakemorefrequentcollisionwiththegasmoleculesthanat(pd)min.buttheenergygained

betweenthesuccessivecollisionissmallerthanat(pd).Hence,theprobabilityofionizationislower

unlessthevoltageisincreased.Incaseof(pd)<(pd)min.,theelectronscrossthegapwithoutmaking

anycollisionandthusthesparkingpotentialishigher.Thepoint(pd)min.,therefore,correspondstothe

highestionizationefficiencyandhenceminimumsparkingpotential.

An analyticalexpressionfortheminimumsparkingpotentialcanbeobtainedusingthegeneral

expressionfor/p.

Ae

Bp/E

p

or pAeBpd/Vb

or eBpd/Vb= pA

Bpd /Vb

or 1

eBpd/Vb

pA

or d. 1

e d pA

Weknowthat d=1nF1

1I H K

eBpd/Vb F

1I



H

K

Therefore, dpA

1nH1K

Assumingtobeconstant,let 1nF1

1Ik

H K e

Bpd/Vb

Then d pA

K

Inordertoobtainminimumsparkingpotential,werearrangetheaboveexpressionas

Vb

=f(pd)

Taking1nonbothsides,wehave

Bpd ln

Apd Vb

or Vb=

K

Bpd

lnApd/k

DifferentiatingVb

w.r.topdandequatingthederivativetozero

dVb

lnApd

. BBpd.

K

K .A

Apd K Bln

Apd

= K

B 0

d(pd) F ApdI2 F ApdI2 F ApdI2

or 1

ln K

1

Fln

H1n K K

I

H1n K K H1n

K K

Apd Apd 2





Table4.4.MinimumSparkingConstantforvariousgases

Gas (pd)min Vb

minvolts

Air

Nitrogen

Hydrogen

SF6

CO2

O2

Neon

Helium

0.55

0.65

4.05

0.26

0.57

0.70

4.0

4.0

352

240

230

507

420

450

245

155

TIME-LAG in Breakdown

Inordertobreakdownagap,certainamountofenergyisrequired.Alsoitdependsupontheavailability

ofanelectronbetweenthegapforinitiationoftheavalanche.Normallythepeakvalueofa.c.andd.c.

aresmallerascomparedtoimpulsewaveasthedurationoftheformerareprettylargeascomparedto

theletterandtheenergycontentislarge.Alsowith

d.c.and a.c. as the duration is large there are usually

sufficientinitiatoryelectronscreatedbycosmicray

andnaturallyoccuringradioactivesources.

SupposeVdisthemaximumvalueofd.c.volt-

age applied for a long time to cause breakdown of a

givengap.Fig.4.10.

Letthesamegapbesubjectedtoastepvolt-

ageofpeakvalueVd1

>Vd

andofadurationsuch that the

gap breaks down in timet.Ifthebreakdown

Fig.4.10Timelagcomponentsundera

stepvoltage



werepurelyafunctionofvoltagemagnitude,thebreakdownshouldhavetakenplacethemomentthe

stepvoltagehadjustcrossedthevoltageVd.

Thetimethatelapsesbetweentheapplicationofthevoltagetoagapsufficienttocausebreak-

down,andthebreakdown,iscalledthetimelag.InthegivencaseshowninFig.4.10,tisthetimelag.

Itconsistsoftwocomponents.Oneisthethatelapsesduringthevoltageapplicationsuntilaprimary

electronappearstoinitiatethedischargeandisknownasthestatisticaltimelagts andtheotheristhe

timerequiredforthebreakdowntodeveloponceinitiatedandisknownastheformativetimelagtf.

Thestatisticaltimelag dependsupon(i)Theamountofpre-ionizationpresentinbetweenthe

gap(ii)Sizeofthegap(iii) Theamountofovervoltage(Vd1

–Vd)appliedtothegap.Thelargerthegap the

higherisgoingtobethestatisticaltimelag.Similarly,asmallerovervoltageresultsinhigher

statisticaltimelag.However,theformativetimelagdependsmainlyonthemechanismofbreakdown.

Incaseswhenthesecondaryelectronsariseentirelyfromelectronemissionatthecathodebypositive

ions,thetransittimefromanodetocathodewillbethedominantfactordeterminingtheformativetime.

Theformativetimelagincreaseswithincreaseingaplengthandfieldnon-uniformity,decreaseswith

increaseinovervoltageapplied.

BREAKDOWNINSOLIDDIELECTRICS

Solidinsulatingmaterialsareusedalmostinallelectricalequipments,beitanelectricheaterora500MW

generatororacircuitbreaker,solidinsulationformsanintegralpartofallelectricalequipments

especiallywhentheoperatingvoltagesarehigh.Thesolidinsulationnotonlyprovidesinsulationtothe

livepartsoftheequipmentfromthegroundedstructures,itsometimesprovidesmechanicalsupportto

theequipment.Ingeneral,ofcourse,asuitablecombinationofsolid,liquidandgaseousinsulationsare used.

Theprocessesresponsibleforthebreakdownofgaseousdielectricsaregovernedbytherapid growth of

current due to emission of electrons from the cathode, ionization of the gas particles and fast

developmentofavalancheprocess.Whenbreakdownoccursthegasesregaintheirdielectricstrength

veryfast,theliquidsregainpartiallyandsoliddielectricslosetheirstrengthcompletely.

Thebreakdownofsoliddielectricsnotonlydependsuponthemagnitudeofvoltageappliedbut

alsoitisafunctionoftimeforwhichthevoltageisapplied.Roughlyspeaking,theproductofthe

breakdownvoltageandthelogofthetimerequiredforbreakdownisalmostaconstanti.e.,

Vb =1nt

b =constant

characteristicsisshowninFig.4.14.



Fig.4.14.VariationofVb withtimeofapplication

The dielectricstrengthofsolidmaterialsisaffectedbymanyfactorsviz.ambienttemperature,

humidity,durationoftest,impuritiesorstructuraldefectswhethera.c.,d.c.orimpulsevoltagesare

beingused,pressureappliedtotheseelectrodesetc.Themechanismofbreakdowninsolidsisagain

lessunderstood.However,asissaidearlierthetimeofapplicationplaysanimportantroleinbreak-

downprocess,fordiscussionpurposes,itisconvenienttodividethetimescaleofvoltageapplication

intoregionsinwhichdifferentmechanismsoperate.Thevariousmechanismsare:

(i)IntrinisicBreakdown

(ii)ElectromechanicalBreakdown

(iii)BreakdownDuetoTreeingandTracking

(iv)ThermalBreakdown

(v)ElectrochemicalBreakdown

Intrinsic and avalanche breakdown Breakdown

Ifthedielectricmaterialispureandhomogeneous,thetemperatureandenvironmentalconditionssuitably

controlledandifthevoltageisappliedforaveryshorttimeoftheorderof10–8second, thedielectric

strengthofthespecimenincreasesrapidlytoan

upperlimitknownasintrinsicdielectricstrength.

Theintrinsicstrength,therefore,dependsmainly

uponthestructuraldesignofthemateriali.e.,the

materialitselfandisaffectedbytheambient Fig.4.15Specimendesignedforintrinsicbreakdown

temperatureasthestructureitselfmightchangeslightlybytemperaturecondition.Inordertoobtainthe



intrinsicdielectricstrengthofamaterial,thesamplesaresopreparedthatthereishighstressinthe

centreofthespecimenandmuchlowstressatthecornersasshowninFig.4.15.

The intrinsic break down is obtained in times of theorderof10–8sec. and, therefore, has been

considered to be electronic in nature. The stresses required are of the order of one million volt/cm. The

intrinsic strength is generally assumed to have been reached when electrons in the valance band gain

sufficientenergyfromtheelectricfieldtocrosstheforbiddenenergybandtotheconductionband.In pure and

homogenous materials, thev alence and the conduction bands a reseparated by alargeenergy gapat

roomtemperature,noelectroncanjumpfromvalancebandtotheconductionband.

Theconductivityofpuredielectricsatroomtemperatureis,therfore,zero.However,inpractice,noinsul

ating materialispureand,therefore,hassomeimpuritiesand/orimperfectionsintheirstructuraldesigns.

Theimpurityatomsmayactastrapsforfreeelectronsinenergylevelsthatliejustbelowtheconduction band is

small. An amorphous crystal will, therefore, always have some free electrons in the conduction

band.Atroomtemperaturesomeofthetrappedelectronswillbeexcitedthermallyintotheconduction

bandastheenergygapbetweenthetrapping bandandtheconductionbandissmall.Anamorphous

crystalwill,therefore,alwayshavesomefreeelectronsintheconductionband.Asanelectricfieldis

applied,theelectronsgainenergyandduetocollisionsbetweenthemtheenergyissharedbyallelectrons.

Inanamorphousdielectrictheenergygainedbyelectronsfromtheelectricfieldismuchmorethan

theycantransferittothelattice.Therefore,thetemperatureofelectronswillexceedthelatticetemperature

andthiswillresultintoincreaseinthenumberoftrappedelectronsreachingtheconductionbandand

finallyleadingtocompletebreakdown.

Whenanelectrodeembededinasolidspecimenissubjectedtoauniformelectricfield,breakdown

mayoccur.Anelectronenteringtheconductionbandofthedielectricatthecathodewillmovetowards

theanodeundertheeffectoftheelectricfield.Duringitsmovement,itgainsenergyandoncollisionit

losesapartoftheenergy.Ifthemeanfreepathislong,theenergygainedduetomotionismorethan

lostduringcollision.Theprocesscontinuesandfinallymayleadtoformationofanelectronavalanche

similartogasesandwillleadfinallytobreakdowniftheavalancheexceedsacertaincriticalsize.

ThermalBreakdown

Whenan insulating material is subjected to an electric field, the material gets heated up due to

conduc- tioncurrentanddielectriclossesduetopolarization.Theconductivityofthematerialincreaseswith

increaseintermperatureandaconditionofinstabilityisreachedwhentheheatgeneratedexceedsthe

heatdissipated by the material and the material breaks down. Fig. 4.17 shows various heating curves

corresponding to different electric stresses as a function of specimen temperature. Assuming that the

temperaturedifferencebetweentheambientandthespecimentemperatureissmall,Newton’slawof



x

coolingisrepresentedbyastraightline.

w

Fig.4.17Thermalstabilityorinstabilityofdifferentfields

ThetestspecimenisatthermalequilibriumcorrespondingtofieldE1

attemperatureT1asbe-

yondthatheatgeneratedislessthanheatlost.UnstableequilibriumexistsforfieldE2

atT2,andfor fieldE

3

thestateofequilibriumisneverreachedandhencethespecimenbreaksdownthermally.

Fig.4.18.Cubicalspeciman—Heatflow

Inordertoobtainbasicequationforstudyingthermalbreakdown,letusconsiderasmallcube

(Fig.4.18)withinthedielectricspecimenwithsidexandtemperaturedifferenceacrossitsfacesinthe

directionofheatflow(assumehereflowisalongx-direction)isT.Therefore,thetemperature gradient is

T

dT

x dx

Letx2 =A.Theheatflowacrossface1

dT KA

dx

Heatflowacrossface2

Joules

KAdT

d –KA

F dTI

dx dxHdxK Herethesecondtermindicatestheheatinputtothedifferentialspecimen.Therefore,theheat

absorbedbythedifferentialcubevolume



c

Ht K

Theheatinputtotheblockwillbepartlydissipatedintothesurroundingandpartlyitwillraise

thetemperatureoftheblock.LetCVbethethermalcapacityofthedielectric,theelectricalconductivity,

Etheelectricfieldintensity.Theheatgeneratedbytheelectricfield=E2 watts,andsupposetherise

intemperatureoftheblockisT,intimedt,thepowerrequiredtoraisethetemperatureoftheblockby

T.Thesolutionoftheaboveequationwillgiveusthetimerequiredtoreachthecriticaltemperature

Tcforwhichthermalinstabilitywillreachandthedielectricwillloseitsinsulatingproperties.However,

unfortunatelytheequationcanbesolvedinitspresentfromCV,Kandareallfunctionsoftemperature

andinfactmayalsodependontheintensityofelectricalfield.

Therefore,toobtainsolutionoftheequation,wemakecertainpracticalassumptionsandwe

considertwoextremesituationsforitssolution.

CaseI:Assumethattheheatabsorbedbytheblockisveryfastandheatgeneratedduetotheelectric

fieldisutilizedinraisingthetemperatureoftheblockandnoheatisdissipatedintothesurroundings.

Weobtain,therefore,anexpressionforwhatisknownasimpulsethermalbreakdown.Themainequa-

tionreducesto

C dT

=E2

V dt

TheobjectivenowistoobtaincriticalfieldstrengthEc whichwillgeneratesufficientheatvery

fastsothataboverequirementismet.Let

FEI

E=G Jt c

i.e., thefieldisarampfunction

ElectromechanicalBreakdown

Whenadielectricmaterialissubjectedtoanelectricfield,chargesofoppositenatureareinducedon

thetwooppositesurfacesofthematerialandhenceaforceofattractionisdevelopedandthespeciment

issubjectedtoelectrostaticcompressiveforcesandwhentheseforcesexceedthemechanicalwithstand

strengthofthematerial,thematerialcollapses.Iftheinitialthicknessofthematerialisd0

andiscompressedtoathicknessdundertheappliedvoltageVthenthecompressivestressdevelopedduetoelectri

cfieldis



1 V2

F=20r

d2

wherer istherelativepermittivityofthespecimen.If istheYoung’smodulus,themechanical

compressivestrengthis

d0

1n d

Equatingthetwounderequilibriumcondition,wehave

2

1

V 1n

d0

2 0 r

d2

d

or V2=d2. 20r

1nd0

d =Kd2 1n

d0

BREAKDOWNINLIQUIDDIELECTRICS

Liquid dielectricsareusedforfillingtransformers,circuitbreakersandasimpregnantsinhighvoltage

cablesandcapacitors.Fortransformer,theliquiddielectricisusedbothforprovidinginsulation between

thelivepartsofthetransformerandthegroundedpartsbesidescarryingouttheheatfromthe transformer

totheatmospherethusprovidingcoolingeffect.Forcircuitbreaker,againbesidesprovidinginsulation

betweenthelivepartsandthegroundedparts,theliquiddielectricisusedtoquenchthearcdeveloped

betweenthebreakercontacts.Theliquiddielectricsmostlyusedarepetroleumoils.Otheroilsusedare synthetic

hydrocarbonsandhalogenatedhydrocarbonsandforveryhightemperatureapplications

silliconeoilsandfluorinatedhyrocarbonsarealsoused.

The threemostimportantpropertiesofliquiddielectricare(i)Thedielectricstrength(ii)The

dielectricconstantand(iii)Theelectricalconductivity.Otherimportantpropertiesareviscosity,thermalstability,specificg

ravity,flashpointetc.Themostimportantfactorswhichaffectthedielectric strength of oil are the, presence of fine water

droplets and the fibrous impurities. The presence of even0.01% water in oil brings down the dielectric strength to

20% of the dry oil value and the presence of fibrous impurities brings down the dielectric strength much sharply.

Therefore, whenever these oils are used for providing electrical insulation, these should be free from moisture,

products of oxidation and other contaminants.

The main consideration in the selection of a liquid dielectric is its chemical stability. The other



considerations are the cost, the saving in space, susceptibility to environmental influences etc. The use of liquid

dielectric has brought down the size of equipment tremendously. In fact, it is practically impossible to construct a

765 kV transformer with air as the insulating medium. Table 4.4. shows the properties of some dielectrics commonly

used in electrical equipments.

Table:Dielectricpropertiesofsomeliquids

S.No.

Property

Transformer

Oil

Capacitor

Oil

Cable

Oil

Silicone

Oil

4.

4.

5.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Relativepermittivity50Hz

Breakdownstrengthat

20°C4.5mm1min

(a)Tan50Hz

(b)1kHz

Resistivityohm-cm

Maximumpermissiblewater

content(ppm)

Acidvaluemg/gmofKOH

SponificationmgofKOH/gm

ofoil

Specificgravityat20°C

4.2–4.3

12kV/mm

10–3

5×10–4

1012 –1013

50

NIL

0.01

0.89

4.1

18kV/mm

4.5×10–4

10–4

1013 –1014

50

NIL

0.01

0.89

4.3–4.6

25kV/mm

2×10–3

10–4

1012 –1013

50

NIL

0.01

0.93

4.7–5.0

35kV/mm

10–3

10–4

4.5×1014

<40

NIL

<0.01

4.0–4.1

Liquids which are chemically pure, structurally simple and do not contain any impurity even in traces of 1

in 109, are known as pure liquids. In contrast, commercial liquids used as insulating liquids are chemically impure

and contain mixtures of complex organic molecules. In fact their behaviour is quite erratic. No two samples of oil

taken out from the same container will behave identically.

The theory of liquid insulation breakdown is less understood as of today as compared to the gas or even

solids. Many aspects of liquid breakdown have been investigated over the last decades but no general theory has

been evolved so far to explain the breakdown in liquids. Investigations carried out so far, however, can be classified

into two schools of thought. The first one tries to explain the breakdown in liquids on a model which is an

extension of gaseous breakdown, based on the avalanche ionization of the atoms caused by electon collisiron in the

applied field. The electrons are assumed to be ejected from the cathode into the liquid by either a field emission or

by the field enhanced thermionic effect (Shottky’s effect). This breakdown mechanism explains breakdown only of

highly pure liquid and does not apply to explain the breakdown mechanism in commercially available liquids. It has

been observed that conduction in pure liquids at low electric field (1 kV/cm) is largely ionic due to dissociation of



impurities and increases linearily with the field strength. At moderately high fields the conduction saturates but at

high field (electric), 100 kV/cm the conduction increases more rapidly and thus breakdown takes place. Fig. 4.11

(a) shows the variation of current as a function of electric field fo

hexane. This is the condition nearer to breakdown. However, if the figure is redrawn starting with low fields, a

current-electric field characteristic as shown in Fig. 4.11 (b) will be obtained. This curve has three distinct regions

as discussed above.

Fig.4.11Variationofcurrentasafunctionofelectricfield

(a)Highfields(b)Lowfields

The second school of thought recognises that the presence of foreign particles in liquid insulations has a

marked effect on the dielectric strength of liquid dielectrics. It has been suggested that the suspended particles are

polarizable and are of higher permittivity than the liquid. These particles experi- ence an electrical force directed

towards the place of maximum stress. With uniform field electrodes the movement of particles is presumed to be

initiated by surface irregularities on the electrodes, which give rise to local field gradients. The particles thus get

accumulated and tend to form a bridge across the gap which leads finally to initiation of breakdown. The impurities

could also be in the form of gaseous bubbles which obviously have lower dielectric strength than the liquid itself

and hence on breakdown of bubble the total breakdown of liquid may be triggered.

Electronic Breakdown

Once an electron is injected into the liquid, it gains energy from the electric field applied between the

electrodes. It is presumed that some electrons will gain more energy due to field than they would lose during

collision. These electrons are accelerated under the electric field and would gain sufficient energy to knock out an

electron and thus initiate the process of avalanche. The threshold condition for the beginning of avalanche is

achieved when the energy gained by the electron equals the energy lost during ionization (electron emission) and is



given by

e E=Chv

whereisthemeanfreepath,hvistheenergyofionizationandCisaconstant.Table4.3givestypical

valuesofdielectricstrengthsofsomeofthehighlypurifiedliquids.

Table4.5.Dielectricstrengthsofpureliquids

Liquid Strength(MV/cm)

Benzene

Goodoil

Hexane

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Silicon

4.1

4.0–4.0

4.1–4.3

4.6–4.88

4.4

4.0–4.2

The electronic theory whereas predicts the relative values of dielectric strength satisfactorily, the formative time

lags observed are much longer as compared to the ones predicted by the electronic theory.

Suspended Solid Particle Mechanism

Commercial liquids will always contain solid impurities either as fibers or as dispersed solid particles. The

permittivity of these solids (E1) will always be different from that of the liquid (E2). Let us assume these particles

to be sphere of radisus r. These particles get polarized in an electric field E and experi- ence a force which is given

as

andthisforceisdirectedtowardsaplaceofhigherstressif1

>2

andtowardsaplaceoflowerstress

if1<

2when

1isthepermittivityofgasbubbles.Theforcegivenaboveincreasesasthepermittivity

ofthesuspendedparticles(1)increases.If

1



Thus, the force will tend the particle to move towards the strongest region of the field. In a

uniform electric field which usually can be developed by a small sphere gap, the field is the strongest in

the uniform field region. Here dE/dx > 0 so that the force on the particle is zero and the particle remains

in equilibrium. Therefore, the particles will be dragged into the uniform field region. Since the

permittivity of the particles is higher than that of the liquid, the presence of particle in the uniform field

region will cause flux concentration at its surface. Other particles if present will be attracted towards the

higher flux concentration. If the particles present are large, they become aligned due to these forces and

form a bridge across the gap. The field in the liquid between the gap will increase and if it reaches critical

value, breakdown will take place. If the number of particles is not sufficient to bridge the gap, the

particles will give rise to local field enhancement and if the field exceeds the dielectric strength of liquid,

local breakdown will occur near the particles and thus will result in the formation of gas bubbles which

have much less dielectric strength and hence finally lead to the breakdown of the liquid.

The movement of the particle under the influence of electric field is oposed by the viscous force

posed by the liquid and since the particles are moving into the region of high stress, diffusion must also

be taken into account. We know that the viscous force is given by (Stoke’s relation) FV = 6Πnrv where

ηs is the viscosity of liquid, r the raidus of the particle and v the velocity of the particle.

However, if the diffusion process is included, the drift velocity due to diffusion will be given

whereD=KT/6rarelationknownasStokes-Einsteinrelation.HereKisBoltzmann’sconstantand T the

absolute temperature. At any instant of time, the particle should have one velocity and, therefore,

equationv=vd

Wehave



It is clear that the breakdown strength E depends upon the concentration of particles

N, radius rof particle, viscosity of liquid and temperature T of the liquid.It has been found

that liquid with solid impurities has lower dielectric strength as compared to its pure form.

Also, it has been observed that larger the size of the particles impurity the lower the overall

dielectric strength of the liquid containing the impurity.

Cavity Breakdown

It has been observed experimentally that the dielectric strength of liquid depnds upon

the hydrostatic pressure above the gap length. The higher the hydrostatic pressure, the

higher the electric strength, which suggests that a change in phase of the liquid is involved

in the breakdown process. In fact, smaller the head of liquid, the more are the chances of

partially ionized gases coming out of the gap and higher the chances of breakdown. This

means a kind of vapour bubble formed is responsible for the breakdown. The following

processes might lead to formation of bubbles in the liquids:

(i) Gas pockets on the surface of electrodes.

(ii) Due to irregular surface of electrodes, point charge concentration may lead to corona

discharge, thus vapourizing the liquid.

(iii) Changes in temperature and pressure.

(iv) Dissociation of products by electron collisions giving rise to gaseous products.

It has been suggested that the electric field in a gas bubble which is immersed in a liquid of

permittivity €2 is given by

Eb 3E0

2 2

WhereE0

isthefieldintheliquidinabsenceofthebubble.Thebubbleundertheinfluenceof

theelectricfieldE0

elongateskeepingitsvolumeconstant.WhenthefieldEb

equalsthegaseousionization

field,dischargetakesplacewhichwillleadtodecompositionofliquidandbreakdownmay

follow.



ElectroconvectionBreakdown

Ithasbeenrecognizedthattheelectro convectionplaysanimportantroleinbreakdownofinsulating

fluidssubjectedtohighvoltages.Whenahighlypureinsulatingliquidissubjectedtohighvoltage,

electricalconductionresultsfromchargecarriersinjectedintotheliquidfromtheelectrodesurface.

Theresultingspacechargegivesrisetocoulombicforceswhichundercertainconditionscauseshydro-

dynamicinstability,yieldingconvectingcurrent.Ithasbeenshownthattheonsetofinstabilityisassociatedwith

acriticalvoltage.Astheappliedvoltageapproachesthecriticalvoltage,themotionatfirst exhibitsa

structureofhexagonalcellsandasthevoltageisincreasedfurtherthemotionbecomes

turbulent.Thus,interactionbetweenthespacechargeandtheelectricfieldgivesrisetoforcescreating

aneddymotionofliquid.Ithasbeenshownthatwhenthevoltageappliedisneartobreakdownvalue,

thespeedoftheeddymotionisgivenbye = 2 /whereisthedensityofliquid.Inliquids,the

ionicdriftvelocityisgivenby

d

=KE

whereKisthemobilityofions.

e

Let M d

2 /KE

TheratioMisusuallygreaterthanunityandsometimesmuchgreaterthanunity(Table4.Thus,

inthetheoryofelectro convection,M playsadominantrole.Thechargetransportwillbe

largelybyliquidmotionratherthanbyionicdrift.Thecriterionforinstabilityisthatthelocalflow

velocityshouldbegreaterthandriftvelocity.

Medium Ion M

AirNTP

Ethanol

Methanol

Nitrobenzene

PropyleneCarbonate

TransformerOil

O–2

Cl–

H+

Cl–

Cl–

H+

4.0

4.5

35.5

35.5

69

4.3

4.3×10–2

26.5

4.1

22

51

200



F

F

.Example1Asteadycurrentof600Aflowsthroughtheplaneelectrodeseparatedbyadistanceof

0.5cmwhenavoltageof10kVisapplied.DeterminetheTownsend’sfirstionizationcoefficientifa currentof60

Aflowswhenthedistanceofseparationisreducedto0.1cmandthefieldiskept constantatthepreviousvalue.

Solution:Since the field is kept constant (i.e.,if distance of separation is reduced, the voltage is also

reducedbythesameratiosothatV/diskeptconstant).

I=I0 ex

Substitutingtwodifferentsetsofvalues,

wehave 600=I0 e0.5and 60=I

0e0.1

or 10=e0.4 or 0.4=1n10

0.4=4.3026

=5.75ionizingcollisions/cm.

Example 2ThefollowingtablegivestwosetsofexperimentalresultsforstudyingTownsend’smecha-

nism.Thefieldiskeptconstantineachset:

Iset30kV/cm

Gapdistance(mm)

IIsetkV/cm

ObservedcurrentA

0.5

4.0

4.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

4.0

5.0

Iset IIset

4.5×10–13

5×10–13

8.5×10–13

4.5×10–12

5.6×10–12

4.4×10–10

4.4×10–10

4.5×10–9

7.0×10–7

6.5×10–14

4.0×10–13

4×10–13

8×10–13

4.2×10–12

6.5×10–12

6.5×10–11

4.0×10–10

4.2×10–8

Themanimumcurrentobservedis6×10–14A.DeterminethevaluesofTownsend’sfirstand

secondionizationcoefficients.

Solution:1stSet.Sincethereisgradualincreaseincurrentuptogapdistanceof3mm,slopebetween

anytwopoint

Letustakegapdistancesof2and4.5mm.

Therespective1nI/I0are

4.510 1n

12I

J=5.218861014 K

4.510



3

and 1n 12I

61014

=4.5362

Theslope =4.53625.2188

26.34 0.05

Sincethereissuddenriseincurrentatthelastobservation,thisisusedtoevaluate.

Weknowthat

Iex

or I= 0

1(ex 1)

I 7 7

or 10

e26.340.5

15.17

I0 6 1(e

5

1)

or 7107

6

1

5.24

105

= 5.24 10

15.24105

1

15.24105

or 0.0449=1–5.24×105

or 0.9551=5.24×105

or =0.182×10–5/cm.

Set-II.Forthesamegapdistancetheslopewillbe=1n(12/8)/0.05=8.1collisions/cmand therefore

I 210

5

I0

e8.10.

5

1(e4.05

1)

2×105= 57.39

1(56.39)

or 20010

57.39

5.4849

103

1

1 56.39

4.87×10–4=1–56.39

56.39=4.0

or =4.7×10–2collisions/cm



Example4. StateandexplainPaschen’slaw.Deriveexpressionfor(pd)min

andVbmin

.Assume

A=12,B=365and=0.02forair.Determine(pd)min

andVbmin

.

Solution:Weknowthat

ek (pd)

min=

A

where K=ln(1+1/)



Therefore, (pd)min

= e

Aln(1+1/)

Substitutingthevalues,wehave

4.718 (pd)min= 1n(11/0.02)=0.89 Ans.

12

Now V

bmin =

Be K=

A

365

12

4.7181n51=325Volts Ans.



UNIT- 4

GENERATION OF HIGH DC AND AC VOLTAGES:HV AC-HV transformer; Need

for cascade connection and working of transformers units connected in cascade. Series

resonant circuit- principle of operation and advantages. Tesla coil. HV DC- voltage doubler

circuit, cock croft- Walton type high voltage DC set. Calculation of high voltage regulation,

ripple and optimum number of stages for minimum voltage drop

8 Hours

There are various applications of high d.c. voltages in industries, research medical

sciences etc. HV transmission over both overhead lines and underground cables is becoming

more and more popular. HV is used for testing HVAC cables of long lengths as these have

very large capacitance and would require very large values of currents if tested on HVAC

voltages. Even though D.C. tests on A.C. cables is convenient and economical, these suffer

from the fact that the stress distribution within the insulating material is different from the

normal operating condition. In industry it is being used for electrostatic precipitation of

ashing in thermal power plants, electrostatic painting, cement industry, communication

systems etc. HV is also being used extensively in physics for particle acceleration and in

medical equipments (X-Rays).

The most efficient method of generating high D.C. voltages is through the process of

rectifica- tion employing voltage multiplier circuits. Electrostatic generators have also been

used for generating high D.C. voltages.

GENERATION OF HIGH A.C. VOLTAGES

Most of the present day transmission and distribution networks are operating on a.c.

voltages and hence most of the testing equipments relate to high a.c. voltages. Even though

most of the equipments on the system are 3-phase systems, a single phase transformer

operating at power frequency is the most common from of HVAC testing equipment.

Need of aTransformers



transformers normally used for the purpose have low power rating but high voltage ratings.

These transformers are mainly used for short time tests on high voltage equipments. The

currents required for these tests on various equipments are given below:

Insulators, C.B., bushings, Instrument

transformers = 0.1– 0.5 A Power transformers,

h.v. capacitors. = 0.5–1 A

Cables = 1 A and above

The design of a test transformer is similar to a potential transformer used for the measurement

of voltage and power in transmission lines. The flux density chosen is low so that it does not

draw large magnetising current which would otherwise saturate the core and produce higher

harmonics.

Cascaded Transformers

For voltages higher than 400 KV, it is desired to cascade two or more transformers

depending upon the voltage requirements. With this, the weight of the whole unit is

subdivided into single units and, therefore, transport and erection becomes easier. Also, with

this, the transformer cost for a given voltage may be reduced, since cascaded units need not

individually possess the expensive and heavy insulation required in single stage transformers

for high voltages exceeding 345 kV. It is found that the cost of insulation for such voltages

for a single unit becomes proportional to square of operating voltage.

Fig. 4.9 shows a basic scheme for cascading three transformers. The primary of the

first stage transformer is connected to a low voltage supply. A voltage is available across the

secondary of this transformer. The tertiary winding (excitation winding) of first stage has the

same number of turns as the primary winding, and feeds the primary of the second stage

transformer. The potential of the tertiary is fixed to the potential V of the secondary winding

as shown in Fig. 4.9. The secondary winding of the second stage transformer is connected in

series with the secondary winding of the first stage transformer, so that a voltage of 2V is



available between the ground and the terminal of secondary of the second stage transformer.

Similarly, the stage-III transformer is connected in series with the second stage transformer.

With this the output voltage between ground and the third stage transformer, secondary is3V.

it is to be noted that the individual stages except the upper most must have three-winding

transformers. The upper most, however, will be a two winding transformer.

Fig. 4.9 shows metal tank construction of transformers and the secondary winding is

not divided. Here the low voltage terminal of the secondary winding is connected to the tank.

The tank of stage-I transformer is earthed. The tanks of stage-II and stage-III transformers

have potentials of V and2V, respectively above earth and, therefore, these must be insulated

from the earth with suitable solid insulation. Through h.t. bushings, the leads from the tertiary

winding and the h.v. winding are brought out to be connected to the next stage transformer.

Fig.4.9Basic3stagecascadedtransformer

However,ifthehighvoltagewindingsareofmid-pointpotentialtype,thetanksareheldat 0.5V,

4.5Vand4.5V,respectively.Thisconnectionresultsinacheaperconstructionandthehighvoltage

insulationnowneedstobedesignedforV/2fromitstankpotential.

Themain disadvantage of cascading the transformers is that the lower stages of the primaries of



thetransformersareloadedmoreascomparedwiththeupperstages.

Theloadingofvariouswindingsisindicatedby

PinFig.4.9.Forthethree-stagetransformer,thetotal

outputVAwill be 3VI=3Pand, therefore, each of the

secondarywindingofthetransformerwouldcarryacur- rent

ofI =P/V.Theprimarywindingofstage-IIItrans- former is

loaded with Pandsoalsothetertiarywinding

ofsecondstagetransformer.Therefore,theprimaryof

thesecond stage transformer would be loaded with 2P.

Extending the same logic, it is found that the first stage

primarywouldbeloadedwithP.Therefore,whilede-

signingtheprimariesandtertiariesofthese transformers,

thisfactormustbetakenintoconsideration. .4.10Equivalentcircuitofonestage

Thetotalshortcircuitimpedanceofacascaded

transformerfromdataforindividualstagescanbeobtained.Theequivalentcircuitofanindividual

stageisshowninFig.4.10.

HereZp,Z

s,andZ

t,aretheimpedancesassociatedwitheachwinding.Theimpedancesare

showninserieswithanideal3-windingtransformerwithcorrespondingnumberofturns Np,N

sandN

t.

Theimpedancesareobtainedeitherfromcalculatedorexperimentally-derivedresultsofthethreeshort-

circuittestsbetweenanytwowindingstakenatatime.

LetZps

=leakageimpedancemeasuredonprimarysidewithsecondaryshortcircuitedandter- tiaryopen.

Zpt

=leakageimpedancemeasuredonprimarysidewithtertiaryshortcircuitedandsecond-

aryopen.

Zst=leakageimpedanceonsecondarysidewithtertiaryshortcircuitedandprimaryopen.

Ifthesemeasuredimpedancesarereferredtoprimarysidethen

Zps

=Zp +Z

s,Z

pt =Z

p +Z

t and Z

st=Z

s +Z

t

Solvingtheseequations,wehave

1 1 Z

p =

2 (Z

ps+Z

pt–Z

st),Z

s =

2 (Z

ps+Z

st–Z

pt)

1



and Zt=

2 (Z

pt+Z

st–Z

ps) (4.19)

Assumingnegligiblemagnetizingcurrent,thesumoftheampereturnsofallthewindingsmust bezero.

NpI

p–N

s I

s – N

tIt = 0

Assuminglosslesstransformer,wehave,

Zp =jX

p, Z

s =jX

s and Z

t =jX

t

Fig.4.11Equivalentcircuitof3-stagetransformer



N

2 2

Fig. 4.11canbefurtherreducedtoaverysimpli- p

fiedcircuitasshowninFig.4.14.Theresultingshort

circuitreactanceXres

isobtainedfromtheconditionthat

thepowerratingofthetwocircuitsbethesame.Herecurrentshavebeenshowncorrespondingtohigh

voltageside.

I2X

res=(3I)2 X

p +(2I)2 X

p +I2 X

p +I2 X

s +I2 X

s+I2 X

s+(2I)2X

t +I2X

t

Xres

=14Xp+3X

s +5x

t (4.20)

insteadof3(Xp+X

s +X

t)asmightbeexpected.Equation(4.20)canbegeneralisedforann-stage

transformerasfollows:

n

Xres

=∑[(n–i+1)

Xpi+Xsi +(i–1)Xti] =1

WhereXpi

,XsiandX

tiare theshort-circuitreactanceoftheprimary,secondaryandtertiarywindingsof

ithtransformer.

It has been observed that the impedance of a two-stage transformer is about 3–4 times the

impedanceofoneunitandathree-stageimpedanceis8–9timestheimpedanceofoneunittransformer.

Hence,inordertohavealowimpedanceofacascadedtransformer,itisdesirablethattheimpedanceof

individualunitsshouldbeassmallaspossible.

SERIESRESONANTCIRCUIT

Theequivalentcircuitofasingle-stage-testtransformeralongwithitscapacitiveloadisshowninFig.

4.15.HereL1

representstheinductanceofthevoltageregulatorandthetransformerprimary,Lthe

S

exciting inductance of the transformer,L2

the inductanceofthetransformersecondaryand Cthe

capacitanceoftheload.NormallyinductanceLisvery largeascomparedtoL1andL

2 and henceitsshunting

effectcanbeneglected.Usuallytheloadcapacitanceis variableanditispossiblethatforcertainloading,

resonance may occur in the circuit suddenly and the currentwillthenonlybelimitedbytheresistanceof

thecircuitandthevoltageacrossthetestspecimenmay goupashighas20to40timesthedesiredvalue.

Similarly, presence of harmonics due to saturation of iron core of transformer may also result in

resonance.Thirdharmonicfrequencieshavebeenfoundtobequitedisastrous.

With series resonance, the resonance is controlled at fundamental frequency and hence no un-

wantedresonanceoccurs.

Thedevelopmentofseriesresonancecircuitfortestingpurposehasbeenverywidelywelcome

bythecableindustryastheyfacedresonanceproblemwithtesttransformerwhiletestingshortlengths ofcables.

Intheinitialstages,itwasdifficulttomanufacturecontinuouslyvariablehighvoltageandhigh



valuereactorstobeusedintheseriescircuitandtherefore,indirectmethodstoachievethisobjective

wereemployed.Fig.4.16showsacontinuouslyvariablereactorconnectedinthelowvoltagewinding

ofthestepuptransformerwhosesecondaryisratedforthefulltestvoltage.C2

representstheload

capacitance.

Fig.4.16Singletransformer/reactorseriesresonancecircuit

IfNisthetransformationratioandListheinductanceonthelowvoltagesideofthetrans-

former,thenitisreflectedwithN2Lvalueonthesecondaryside(loadside)ofthetransformer.For

certainsettingofthereactor,theinductivereactancemayequalthecapacitivereactanceofthecircuit,

henceresonancewilltakeplace.Thus,thereactivepowerrequirementofthesupplybecomeszeroand

ithastosupplyonlythelossesofthecircuit.However,thetransformerhastocarrythefullloadcurrent

onthehighvoltageside.Thisisadisadvantageofthemethod.Theinductoraredesignedforhigh

qualityfactorsQ=ωL/R.Thefeedtransformer,therefore,injectsthelossesofthecircuitonly.

Ithasnowbeenpossibletomanufacturehighvoltagecontinuouslyvariablereactors300kVper

unitusinganewtechniquewithsplitironcore.Withthis,thetestingstepuptransformercanbeomitted

asshowninFig.4.17.Theinductanceoftheseinductorscanbevariedoverawiderangedepending

uponthecapacitanceoftheloadtoproduceresonance.



2

Fig.4.17(a)Seriesresonancecircuitwithvariableh.t.reactors(b)Equivalentcircuitof(a)

Fig.4.17(b)representsanequivalentcircuitforseriesresonancecircuit.HereRisusuallyof low value.

After the resonance condition is achieved, the output voltage can be increased by increasing

theinputvoltage.Thefeedtransformersareratedfornominalcurrentratingsofthereactor.

Underresonance,theoutputvoltagewillbe

V 1 V

0=

RωC

WhereVisthesupplyvoltage.

Sinceatresonance

ωL=

Therefore V0=

1

ωC2

V ωL=VQ

R

whereQisthequalityfactoroftheinductorwhichusuallyvariesbetween40and80.Thismeansthat

withQ=40,theoutputvoltageis40timesthesupplyvoltage.Italsomeansthatthereactivepower

requirementsoftheloadcapacitanceinkVAis40timesthepowertobeprovidedbythefeedtrans-

formerinKW.Thisresultsinarelativelysmallpowerratingforthefeedtransformer.

Thefollowingaretheadvantagesofseries resonancecircuit.

(i)ThepowerrequirementsinKWofthefeedcircuitare(kVA)/QwherekVAisthereactive

powerrequirementsoftheloadandQisthequalityfactorofvariablereactorusuallygreater

than40.Hence,therequirementisverysmall.



(ii)Theseriesresonancecircuitsuppressesharmonicsandinterferencetoalargeextent.The near

sinusoidal wave helps accurate partial discharge of measurements and is also desirable

formeasuringlossangleandcapacitanceofinsulatingmaterialsusingScheringBridge.

(iii)Incaseofaflashoverorbreakdownofatestspecimenduringtestingonhighvoltageside,

theresonantcircuitisdetunedandthetestvoltagecollapsesimmediately.Theshortcircuit

currentislimitedbythereactanceofthevariablereactor.Ithasprovedtobeofgreatvalue

astheweakpartoftheisolationofthespecimendoesnotgetdestroyed.Infact,sincethearc

flashoverhasverysmallenergy,itiseasiertoobservewhereexactlytheflashoverisoccurring

bydelayingthetrippingofsupplyandallowingtherecurrenceofflashover.

(iv)Noseparatecompensatingreactors(justaswehaveincaseoftesttransformers)arerequired.

Thisresultsinaloweroverallweight.

(v)WhentestingSF6

switchgear,multiplebreakdownsdonotresultinhightransients.Hence,

nospecialprotectionagainsttransientsisrequired.

(vi)Seriesorparallelconnectionsofseveralunitsisnotatallaproblem.Anynumberofunits can

beconnectedinserieswithoutbotheringfortheimpedanceproblemwhichisveryseverely

associatedwithacascadedtesttransformer.Incasethetestspecimenrequires

largecurrentfortesting,unitsmaybeconnectedinparallelwithoutanyproblem.

Fig.4.18Parallelresonancesy

ste

Fig. 4.18showsschematicofatypicalparallelresonantsystems.Herethevariablereactoris

incorporated into the high voltage transformer by introducing a variable air gap in the core of the

transformer.Withthisconnection,variationinloadcapacitanceandlossescausevariationin input

currentonly.Theoutputvoltageremainspracticallyconstant.Withintheunitsofsinglestagedesign,

theparallelresonantmethodoffersoptimumtestingperformance.

Inanattempttotakeadvantageofboththemethodsofconnections, i.e.,seriesandparallel resonant

systems, a third system employing series parallel connections was tried. This is basically a

modificationofaseriesresonantsystemtoprovidemostofthecharacteristicsoftheparallelsystem.

Fig.4.19.showsaschematicofatypicalseriesparallelmethod.



Fig.4.19Series-parallelresonantsystem

Heretheoutputvoltageisachievedbyautotransformeractionandparallelcompensationis

achievedbytheconnectionofthereactor.Ithasbeenobservedthatduringtheprocessoftuningfor

mostoftheloads,thereisacertaingapopeningthatwillresultintheparallelconnectedtestsystem

goingintouncontrolledovervoltagingofthetestsampleandifthetestsetisallowedtooperatefora

longtime,excessiveheatinganddamagetothereactorwouldresult.

Also,ithasbeenobservedexperimentallythatcompletebalanceofampereturnstakesplace

whenthesystemoperatesunderparallelresonancecondition.Underallothersettingsofthevariable

reactor,anunbalanceintheampereturnswillforcelargeleakagefluxintothesurroundingmetallic

tankandclampingstructurewhichwillcauselargecirculatingcurrentsresultinginhotspotswhichwill

affectadverselythedielectricstrengthofoilinthetank.

In viewoftheaboveconsiderations,ithasbeenrecommendednottogoinforseries-parallel

resonantmodeofoperationfortestingpurpose.Ifasinglestagesystemupto300kVusingtheresonance

testvoltageisrequired,parallelresonantsystemmustbeadopted.Fortestvoltageexceeding300kV,

theseriesresonantmethodisstronglyrecommended.

Thespecificweightofacascadedtesttransformervariesbetween10and20kg/kVAwhereas

foraseriesresonantcircuitwithvariablehighvoltagereactorsitliesbetween3and6kg/kVA.

With the development of static

frequencyconvertor,ithasnowbeenpossible

toreducethespecificweightstillfurther.In

ordertoobtainresonanceinthecircuitachoke

ofconstantmagnitudecanbeusedandasthe

loadcapacitancechangesthesourcefrequency

should be changed. Fig.4.20 shows a

schematicdiagramofaseriesresonantcircuit

withvariablefrequencysource.

Thefrequencyconvertorsuppliesthe

Fig.4.20Schematicdiagramofseriesresonant

circuitwithvariablefrequencysources

lossesofthetestingcircuitonlywhichareusuallyoftheorderof3%ofthereactivepoweroftheload

capacitorasthechokescanbedesignedforveryhighqualityfactors.

A wordofcautionisveryimportant,hereinregardtotestingoftestspecimenhavinglarge capacitance.

With a fixed reactance,thefrequencyforresonancewillbesmallascomparedtonormal



frequency.Ifthevoltageappliedistakenasthenormalvoltagethecoreofthefeedtransformerwillget

saturatedasV/fthenbecomeslargeandthefluxinthecorewillbelarge.So,asuitablevoltagemustbe

appliedtoavoidthissituation.

Withthestaticfrequencyconvertorcircuitsthespecificweighthascomedownto0.5kg/kVA.

Itistobenotedthatwhereastheseriesresonantsystemsarequitepopularfortestingcablesandhighly

lossfreecapacitiveloads,cascadedtransformersaremorecommoninhighvoltagelaboratoriesfortestingequip

mentinMVrangeandalsoforrelativelyhighloads.

HALF-WAVERECTIFIER AND VOLTAGE Doubler CIRCUIT

ThesimplestcircuitforgenerationofhighdirectvoltageisthehalfwaverectifiershowninFig.4.1

HereRL

istheloadresistanceandCthecapacitancetosmoothenthed.c.outputvoltage.

Ifthecapacitorisnotconnected,pulsatingd.c.voltageisobtainedattheoutputterminalswhereas

withthecapacitanceC,thepulsationattheoutputterminalarereduced.Assumingtheidealtransformer

andsmallinternalresistanceofthediodeduringconductionthecapacitorCischargedtothemaximum

voltageVmax

duringconductionofthediodeD.Assumingthatthereisnoloadconnected,thed.c. voltageacross

capacitanceremainsconstantat Vmax

whereasthesupplyvoltageoscillatesbetween

±Vmax

andduringnegativehalfcyclethepotentialofpointAbecomes – Vmax

andhencethediodemust

beratedfor2Vmax.

ThiswouldalsobethecaseifthetransformerisgroundedatAinsteadofBasshown

inFig.4.1(a).SuchacircuitisknownasvoltagedoublerduetoVillardforwhichtheoutputvoltage

wouldbetakenacrossD.Thisd.c.voltage,however,oscillatesbetweenzeroand2Vmax

andisneeded

fortheCascadecircuit.



RLaf

Fig.4.1(a)SinglePhaserectifier(b)OutputvoltagewithoutC (c)OutputvoltagewithC

Ifthecircuitisloaded,theoutputvoltagedoesnotremainconstantatVmax

.AfterpointE(Fig.

4.1(c)),thesupplyvoltagebecomeslessthanthecapacitorvoltage,diodestopsconducting.Thecapacitor

cannotdischargebackintothea.c.systembecauseofonewayactionofthediode.Instead,thecurrent

nowflowsoutofCtofurnishthecurrentiLthroughtheload.Whilegivingupthisenergy,thecapacitor

voltagealsodecreasesataratedependingonthetimeconstantCRofthecircuitanditreachesthepoint

FcorrespondingtoVmin

. BeyondF,thesupplyvoltageisgreaterthanthecapacitorvoltageandhence thediode

Dstartsconductingchargingthecapacitor CagaintoVmax

andalsoduringthisperiodit

suppliescurrenttotheloadalso.Thissecondpulseofip(i

c +i

l)isofshorterdurationthantheinitial

chargingpulseasitservemainlytorestoreintoCtheenergythatCmeanwhilehadsuppliedtoload.

Thus,whileeachpulseofdiodecurrentlastsmuchlessthanahalfcycle,theloadreceivescurrentmore

continuouslyfromC.

Assumingthechargesuppliedbythetransformertotheloadduringtheconductionperiodt, which is

very small to be negligible, the charge supplied by the transformer to the capacitor during

conductionequalsthechargesuppliedbythecapacitortotheload.Notethatic>>i

L.Duringoneperiod

T=1/fofthea.cvoltage,achargeQistransferredtotheloadRL

andisgivenas

Q=ziLatfdt=z

V t I dt=IT=

f

T T RL

whereIisthemeanvalueofthed.coutputiL(t)andV

RL(t)thed.c.voltagewhichincludesarippleas

showninFig.4.1(c).

ThischargeissuppliedbythecapacitorovertheperiodTwhenthevoltagechangesfromVmax

toVmin

overapproximatelyperiodTneglectingtheconductionperiodofthediode.

SupposeatanytimethevoltageofthecapacitorisVanditdecreasesbyanamountofdVover

thetimedtthenchargedeliveredbythecapacitorduringthistimeis

dQ=CdV

Therefore,ifvoltagechangesfromVmax

toVmin

,thechargedeliveredbythecapacitor



zdQ=z Vmin

CdV=−CbVmax−Vming Vmax

Orthemagnitudeofchargedeliveredbythecapacitor

Q=C(Vmax–V

min) (4.3)

Usingequation(4.2)

Q=2δVC (4.4)

Therefore, 2δVC=IT

IT I or δV=

2C=

2fC

Equation (4.5)showsthattherippleinarectifieroutputdependsupontheloadcurrentandthecircuit

parameterlikefandC.TheproductfCis,therefore,animportantdesignfactorfortherectifiers.The

higherthefrequencyofsupplyandlargerthevalueoffilteringcapacitorthesmallerwillbetheripple

inthed.c.output.

Thesinglephasehalf-waverectifiercircuitshavethefollowingdisadvantages:

(i)Thesizeofthecircuitsisverylargeifhighandpured.c.outputvoltagesaredesired.

(ii)Theh.t.transformermaygetsaturatediftheamplitudeofdirectcurrentiscomparablewith

thenominalalternatingcurrentofthetransformer.

Itistobenotedthatallthecircuitsconsideredhereareabletosupplyrelativelylowcurrentsand

thereforearenotsuitableforhighcurrentapplicationssuchasHVtransmission.

Whenhighd.c.voltagesaretobegenerated,voltagedoublerorcascadedvoltagemultiplier

circuitsareused.OneofthemostpopulardoublercircuitduetoGreinacherisshowninFig.4.4.

Suppose Bismorepositivewithrespectto Aandthediode D1

conductsthuschargingthe capacitorC1

toVmax

withpolarityasshowninFig.4.4.DuringthenexthalfcycleterminalAofthe capacitorC1

risestoVmax

andhenceterminalMattainsapotentialof2Vmax

. Thus,thecapacitorC2

is

chargedto2Vmax

throughD4.

Normallythevoltageacrosstheloadwillbelessthan2Vmax

depending

uponthetimeconstantofthecircuitC2R

L.

Fig.4.2Greinachervoltagedoublercircuit



C′

COCKROFT-WALTONVOLTAGEMULTIPLIERCIRCUIT

In1932,CockroftandWaltonsuggestedanimprovementoverthecircuitdevelopedbyGreinacherfor

producinghighD.C.voltages.Fig.4.5.showsamultistagesinglephasecascadecircuitoftheCockroft-

Waltontype.

NoLoadOperation:TheportionABM′MA is

exactly indentical to Greinarcher voltage doubler

circuitandthevoltageacross Cbecomes2Vmax

whenMattainsavoltage2Vmax

.

DuringthenexthalfcyclewhenBbecomes

positivewithrespecttoA,potentialofMfallsand,

therefore,potentialofNalsofallsbecomingless

thanpotentialatM′henceC2

ischargedthrough

D4.

Next half cycleAbecomesmorepositiveand

potentialofMandNrisethuschargingC′2through

D′4.

FinallyallthecapacitorsC′1,C′

2,C′

3,C

1,C

2,

0 D3 O

C3

C3

D3 RL

N N

D2

C2 C2

D2

M M

D

andC3arecharged.Thevoltageacrossthecolumn

ofcapacitorsconsistingof C1,C

2,C

3,keepson

oscillatingasthesupplyvoltagealternates.This

column,therefore,isknownasoscillatingcolumn.

However,thevoltageacrossthecapacitancesC′1,

C′2,C′

3,remainsconstantandisknownas

smootheningcolumn.ThevoltagesatM′,N′,and O′are2V

max4V

maxand6V

max.Therefore,voltage

acrossallthecapacitorsis2 Vmax

exceptfor C1

whereitisVmax

only.Thetotaloutputvoltageis2n V

max wherenisthenumberofstages.Thus,the

1

C1 C1

D1

A B

Fig.4.3

useofmultistagesarrangedinthemannershownenablesveryhighvoltagetobeobtained.Theequal

stressoftheelements(bothcapacitorsanddiodes)usedisveryhelpfulandpromotesamodulardesign

ofsuchgenerators.

GeneratorLoaded:Whenthegeneratorisloaded,theoutputvoltagewillneverreachthevalue2nVmax

.

Also,theoutputwavewillconsistofripplesonthevoltage.Thus,wehavetodealwithtwoquantities,

thevoltagedrop∆VandtherippleδV.

Supposeachargeqistransferredtotheloadpercycle.Thischargeisq=I/f=IT.Thecharge

comesfromthesmootheningcolumn,theseriesconnectionofC′1,C′

2,C′

3,.Ifnochargeweretransferred

duringTfromthisstackviaD1,D

2,D

3,totheoscillatingcolumn,thepeaktopeakripplewouldmerely be

n 1

2δV=IT∑ n=0 i

(4.6)



Butin practicechargesaretransferred.TheprocessisexplainedwiththehelpofcircuitsinFig.4.4(a)

and(b).Fig.4.4(a)showsarrangementwhenpointA ismorepositivewithreferencetoBandcharging

ofsmoothingcolumntakesplaceandFig.4.4(b)showsthearrangementwheninthenexthalfcycleB

becomespositivewithreferencetoAandchargingofoscillatingcolumntakesplace.RefertoFig.4.4 (a). Say the

potential of pointO′is now 6 Vmax

.This discharges through the load resistance and say the

chargelostisq=IToverthecycle.Thismustberegainedduringthechargingcycle(Fig.4.4(a))for

stableoperationofthegenerator.C3

is,thereforesuppliedachargeq fromC5.

ForthisC2

mustacquire

achargeof2qsothatitcansupplyqchargetotheloadandqtoC3,inthenexthalfcycletermedby

cockroftandWaltonasthetransfercycle(Fig.4.4(b)).SimilarlyC′1mustacquireforstabilityreasons

acharge3qsothatitcansupplyachargeqtotheloadand2qtothecapacitorC2

inthenexthalfcycle

(transferhalfcycle).



C

R R

C

D3

0 O

0

D3 O

q q D3 D3

C3 C3 C3

L

C3

L

q D2 q D2

N N

2q

D2

N N

2q D2

C2 C2

C2 C2

2q D1 2q D1

M M

3q

D1

1 C1

3q A

M M’

2q 3q

D1

1 C1

3q

A

1

B B

Fig.4.4(a)Charging ofsmootheningColumn(b)Chargingofoscillatingcolumn

DuringthetransfercycleshowninFig.4.4(b),thediodesD1,D

2,D

3,conductwhenBispositive

withreferencetoA.HereC′2transfersqcharge toC

3,C

1 transfers charge2qtoC

2 andthetransformer

provideschange3q.

Forn-stagecircuit,thetotalripplewillbe

IF 1 2 3 n I 2δV=

f C′n

+ C′n−1

+ C′n−2

+...+

C′1

I F 1 2 3 n I or δV=

2f

C′n

+ C′n−1

+ C′n−2

+...+

C′1

(4.7)

Fromequation(4.7),itisclearthatinamultistagecircuitthelowestcapacitorsareresponsibleformost ripple and

it is, therefore, desirable to increase the capacitance in the lower stages. However, this is

objectionablefromtheviewpointofHighVoltageCircuitwhereif theloadislargeandtheloadvoltage



F J

I

fC

goesdown,thesmallercapacitors(withinthecolumn)wouldbeoverstressed.Therefore,capacitorsof

equalvalueareusedinpracticalcircuitsi.e.,C′n=C′

n–1=...C′

1=Candtherippleisgivenas

I δV=

nan+1f Inan+1f = (4.8)

2fC 2 4fC

The secondquantitytobeevaluatedisthevoltagedrop∆Vwhichisthedifferencebetweenthe

theoreticalnoloadvoltage2nVmax

andtheonloadvoltage.Inordertoobtainthevoltagedrop∆Vrefer

toFig.4.4(a).

HereC′1isnotchargeduptofullvoltage2V

max butonlyto2V

max–3q/Cbecauseofthecharge

givenupthroughC1inonecyclewhichgivesavoltagedropof3q/C=3I/fC

Thevoltagedropinthetransformerisassumedtobenegligible.Thus,C2

ischargedtothe voltage

HG 2Vmax−

3II 3I

fCK− fC

sincethereductioninvoltageacrossC′3againis3I/fC.Therefore,C′

2attainsthevoltage

F3I+3I+2II

Inathreestagegenerator

2Vmax

– fC

3I

∆V1=

fC

∆V2=m2×3+a3−1fr

I

∆V3=(2×3+2×2+1)

fC

Ingeneralforan-stagegenerator

nI ∆V

n=

∆Vn–1

=

∆V

n–2=

.

.

.

∆V1=

fC

I 2n+(n–1)

fC

I 2n+2(n–1)+(n–2)

fC

I

2n+2(n–1)+2(n–2)+...2×3+2×2+1 fC



∆V=∆Vn+∆V

n–1+...+∆V

1

AfteromittingI/fC,theseriescanberewrittenas:

Tn=n

Tn–1

=2n+(n–1)

Tn–2

=2n+2(n–1)+(n–2)

Tn–3

=2n+2(n –1)+2(n– 2)+(n–3) . . .

T1=2n+2(n–1)+2(n–2)+...+2×3+2×2+1

T=Tn + T

n–1+T

n–2+ ...+T

1

Tosumupweaddthelasttermofalltheterms(TnthroughT

1)andagainaddthelasttermofthe

remainingtermandsoon,i.e.,

[n+(n–1)+(n–2)+...+2+1]

+ [2n+2(n–1)+2(n–2)+...+2×2]

+ [2n+2(n–1)+...+2×4+2×3]

+ [2n+2(n–1)+...+2×4]

+[2n+2(n–1)+2(n–2)+...+2×5]+...[2n]

Rearrangingtheabovetermswehave

n+(n–1)+(n–2)+...+2+1

+ [2n+2(n–1)+2(n –2)+...+2×2+2×1]–2×1

+ [2n+2(n–1)+2(n –2)+...+2×3+2×2+2×1]–2×2–2×1

+ [2n+2(n–1)+2(n –2)+...+2×4+2×3+2×2+2×1]

– 2×3–2×2–2×1

.

.

.

[2 ×n+2(n–1)+...+2×2+2×1]–[2(n–1)]

+ 2(n–2)+...+2×2+2×1]

(b)

or n+(n–1)+(n–2)+...+2+1

Plus(n –1)numberoftermsof2[n +(n–1)+...+2+1]

minus2[1+(1+2)+(1+2+3)+...+...1+2+3+...(n–1)]

Thelastterm(minusterm)isrewrittenas

2[1+(1+2)+...+1+2+3+...(n–1)+1+2+...+n]

–2[1+2+3+...+n]

Thenthtermofthefirstpartoftheaboveseriesisgivenas

tn = 2n(n+1)

2

= (n2

+n)



3 2

Therefore,theabovetermsareequalto

= ∑(n2+n)–2∑n

= ∑(n2–n)

Takingonceagainallthetermwehave

T=∑n+2(n–1)∑n –∑(n2 –n)

= 2n∑n –∑n2

= 2n.n(n+1)

−n(n+1)(2n+1)

2 6

3 2 2

=6(n

+n )–n(2n

6

+3n+1)

6n3 +6n

2 –2n

3 –3n

2 –n

= 6

=4n

+3n2

–n

=2

n3

+n

–n

(4.9)

6 3 2 6

Hereagainthelowestcapacitorscontributemosttothevoltagedrop∆Vandsoitisadvantageous

toincreasetheircapacitanceinsuitablesteps.However,onlyadoublingofC1isconvenientasthis

capacitorshastowithstandonlyhalfofthevoltageofothercapacitors.Therefore,∆V1decreasesby an

amountnI/fCwhichrreduces∆Vofeverystagebythesameamounti.e.,by

n. nI 2fC

I F 2 3

nI

fCH3 6K

Hence ∆V= n – (4.10)

Ifn≥4wefindthatthelineartermcanbeneglectedand,therefore,thevoltagedropcanbe approximatedto

∆V≈ I

. fC

2n3

3

(4.11)

Themaximumoutputvoltageisgivenby

I 2 3

V0max

=2nVmax– . n

fC 3 (4.12

From(4.12)itisclearthatforagivennumberofstages,agivenfrequencyandcapacitanceof each

stage,theoutputvoltagedecreaselinearlywithloadcurrentI.Foragivenload,however,V0

=(V0max

–V)mayriseinitiallywiththenumberofstagesn,andreachesamaximumvaluebutdecays



2

beyondonoptimumnumberofstage.TheoptimumnumberofstagesassumingaconstantVmax

,I,fandCcanbeobt

ainedformaximumvalueofV0max

bydifferentiatingequation(4.12)withrespecttonand equatingitto zero.

dVmax =2V –2

dn max

3

I

I 3n

2 =0 fC

2

=Vmax–

fCn =0

or nopt

= VmaxfC

I

(4.13)

Substitutingnopt

inequation(4.12)wehave

Vmax fCF

2I

VmaxfCI (V0max)max =

I Vmax –

3fC I

V fCF

2 I = max

I H2Vmax− 3VmaxK

= Vmax fC.

4 I 3

Vmax

(4.14)

Itistobenotedthatingeneralit is more economical to

use high frequency and smaller value of

capacitancetoreducetheripplesorthevoltagedropratherthan

lowfrequencyandhighcapacitance.

CascadedgeneratorsofCockroft-

Waltontypeareusedandmanufacturedworldwidethese

days. A typical circuit is shown in Fig. 4.5. In general a

direct current upto 20 mA is required for high

voltagesbetween1MVand2MV.Incasewhereahighervalue

ofcurrentisrequired,symmetrical

cascadedrectifiershavebeendeveloped.Theseconsistofmai

nlytworectifiersincascadewithacommon

smoothingcolumn.Thesymmetricalcascadedrectifierhasas

mallervoltagedropandalsoasmaller voltage ripple than the

simple cascade. The alternating current input to the

individual circuits must be

providedattheappropriatehighpotential;thiscanbedoneby

meansofisolatingtransformer.Fig.4.6

showsatypicalca

scadedrectifierci

rcuit.Eachstagec

onsistsofonetran

sformerwhichfe

edstwohalf

waverectifiers.



Fig.4.5AtypicalCockroftcircuit

Fig.4.6

Cascadedr

ELECTROSTATICGENERATOR

Inelectromagnetic

generators,current

carryingconducto

rs are moved

against the

electromagnetic

forces acting

upon them. In

contrast to the

generator,

electrostatic

generators

convertmechanica

lenergyintoelec

tricenergydirect

ly.The

electriccharges

aremovedagain

sttheforceofele

ctric fields,

thereby higher

potential

energy is

gained at the

cost

ofmechanicale

nergy.

Thebasi

cprincipleofope

rationisexplain

edwith

thehelpofFig.4.

7.



V E

_

V

Fig.4.7

dx d

Belt

AninsulatedbeltismovingwithuniformvelocityνinanelectricfieldofstrengthE(x). Suppose

thewidthofthebeltisbandthechargedensityσconsideralengthdxofthebelt,thechargedq=σbdx.

Theforceexperiencedbythischarge(ortheforceexperiencedbythebelt).

dF=Edq=Eσbdx

or F=σbzEdx

Normallytheelectricfieldisuniform

∴ F=σbV

Thepowerrequiredtomovethebelt

=Force×Velocity

=Fv=σbVν (4.15)

Nowcurrent I=

dqσb

dx

dt dt

=σbv (4.16)

∴Thepowerrequiredtomovethebelt

P=Fν=σbVν=VI (4.17)

Assumingnolosses,thepoweroutputisalsoequaltoVI.

Fig.4.8showsbeltdrivenelectrostaticgeneratordevelopedbyVandeGraafin1934.Aninsu-

latingbeltisrunoverpulleys.Thebelt,thewidthofwhichmayvaryfromafewcmstometresisdriven

ataspeedofabout15to30m/sec,bymeansofamotorconnectedtothelowerpulley.Thebeltnearthe lower

pullyischargedelectrostaticallybyanexcitationarrangement.Thelowerchargesprayunit

consistsofanumberofneedlesconnectedtothecontrollabled.c.source(10kV–100kV)sothatthe

dischargebetweenthepointsandthebeltismaintained.Thechargeisconveyedtotheupperendwhere

itiscollectedfromthebeltbydischargingpointsconnectedtotheinsideofaninsulatedmetalelectrode

throughwhichthebeltpasses.Theentireequipmentisenclosedinanearthedmetaltankfilledwith

insulatinggasesofgooddielectricstrengthviz.SF6 etc.Sothatthepotentialoftheelectrodecouldbe

raisedtorelativelyhighervoltagewithoutcoronadischargesorforacertainvoltageasmallersizeof the equipment



will result. Also, the shape of the h.t., electrodeshould be such that the surface gradient of electric field is

made uniform to reduce again corona discharges, even though it is desirable to avoid

coronaentirely.Anisolatedsphereisthemostfavourableelectrodeshapeandwillmaintainauniform

fieldEwithavoltageofErwhereristheradiusofthesphere.

+ +

H.V.terminal

+ +

– Upperspraypoints

+ + – +

Collector + –

+ –

+ + – +

+ – – + –

+ – + –

+ –

+ –

+ – + –

Motordrivenpulley + – + – + – + –

Upperpulley

(insulatedfrom earth)

Insulating belt

Lowerspraypoints

Controllable spray voltage

Fig.4.8VandeGraafgenerator

Astheh.t.electrodecollectschargesitspotentialrises.Thepotentialatanyinstantisgivenas

V=q/Cwhereqis the charge collected at that instant. It appears as though if the charge were collected

foralongtimeanyamountofvoltagecouldbegenerated.However,asthepotentialofelectroderises,

thefieldsetupbytheelectrodeincreasesandthatmayionisethesurroundingmediumand,therefore,

thiswouldbethelimitingvalueofthevoltage.Inpractice,equilibriumisestablishedataterminal

voltagewhichissuchthatthechargingcurrent

FI=C

dVI

H dtK

equalsthedischargecurrentwhichwillincludetheloadcurrentandtheleakageandcoronalosscurrents.

Themovingbeltsystemalsodistortstheelectricfieldand,therefore,itisplacedwithinproperlyshaped



fieldgradingrings.Thegradingisprovidedbyresistorsandadditionalcoronadischargeelements.

Thecollectorneedlesystemisplacednearthepointwherethebeltenterstheh.t.terminal.A

secondpointsystemexcitedbyaself-inducingarrangementenablesthedowngoingbelttobecharged

tothepolarityoppositetothatoftheterminalandthustherateofchargingofthelatter,foragiven

speed,isdoubled.Theselfinducingarrangementrequiresinsulatingtheupperpulleyandmaintaining

itatapotentialhigherthanthatoftheh.t.terminalbyconnectingthepulleytothecollectorneedle

system. Thearrangementalsoconsistsofarowofpoints(shownasupperspraypointsinFig.4.8)

connectedtotheinsideoftheh.t.terminalanddirectedtowardsthepulleyaboveitspointsofentryinto

theterminal.Asthepulleyisatahigherpotential(positive),thenegativechargesduetocoronadischarge

attheupperspraypointsarecollectedbythebelt.Thisneutralisesanyremainingpositivechargeonthe

beltandleavesanexcessofnegativechargesonthedowngoingbelttobeneutralisedbythelower

spraypoints.Sincethesenegativechargesleavetheh.t.terminal,thepotentialoftheh.t.terminalis

raisedbythecorrespondingamount.

Inorder to have a rough estimate of the current supplied by the generator, let us assume that the

electricfieldEisnormaltothebeltandishomogeneous.

WeknowthatD=ε0EwhereDisthefluxdensityandsincethemediumsurroundingtheh.t.

terminalissayairεr=1andε

0=8.854×10–12F/metre.

AccordingtoGausslaw,D=σthesurfacechargedensity.

Therefore, D =σ=ε0E (4.18)

Assuming E=30kV/cm or 30,000kV/m

σ=8.854×10–12×3000×103

=26.562×10–6C/m2

Assumingforatypicalsystemb=1metreandvelocityofthebeltν=10m/sec,andusing

equation(4.16),thecurrentsuppliedbythegeneratorisgivenas

I=σbν

=26.562×10–6×1×10

=26.562×10–5Amp

=265µA

From equation(4.16)itisclearthatcurrentIdependsuponσ,bandν.Thebeltwidth(b)andvelocity νbeing



G KJ=

G J

a f

3 3

3

limited by mechanical reasons, the current can be increased by having higher value of σ.σcanbe

increasedbyusinggasesofhigherdielectricstrengthsothatelectricfieldintensity Ecouldbe

increasedwithouttheinceptionofionisationofthemediumsurroundingtheh.t.terminal.However,

withallthesearrangements,theactualshortcircuitcurrentsarelimitedonlytoafewmAevenforlarge

generators

.

Theadvantagesofthegeneratorare:

(i)Veryhighvoltagescanbeeasilygenerated

(ii)Ripplefreeoutput

(iii)Precisionandflexibilityofcontrol

Thedisadvantagesare:

(i)Lowcurrentoutput

(ii)Limitationsonbeltvelocityduetoitstendencyforvibration.Thevibrationsmaymakeit

difficulttohaveanaccurategradingofelectricfields

Thesegeneratorsareusedinnuclearphysicslaboratoriesforparticleaccelerationandotherprocesses

inresearchwork.

Example 1.AtenstageCockraft-Waltoncircuithasallcapacitorsof0.06µF.Thesecondaryvoltage

ofthesupplytransformeris100kVatafrequencyof150Hz.Iftheloadcurrentis1mA,determine(i)

voltageregulation(ii)theripple(iii)theoptimumnumberofstagesformaximumoutputvoltage(iv)

themaximumoutputvoltage.

Solution:GivenC=0.06µF,I=1mA,f=150Hz

n=10

Voltagedrop V= I F2

fCH3n

n2

+ 2

nI +

6

I F2

fCH3n

n2I +

2K

1×10−3 F2 102I

=150×0.06×10

−6

×10 + 3 2

103



=5.0×3

666.6+50 =

Therefore,percentagevoltageregulation

717×103

3×3

=80kV

80×100

2×10×100

=4%

I (ii)TheripplevoltageδV=

fC

nan +1f 2

1×10−3×55 =

150×0.06×10−6

=6.1kV



Example 2.A100kVA250V/200kVfeedtransformerhasresistanceandreactanceof1%and5%

respectively.Thistransformerisusedtotestacableat400kVat50Hz.Thecabletakesacharging

currentof0.5Aat400kV.Determinetheseriesinductancerequired.Assume1%resistance ofthe

inductor.Alsodetermineinputvoltagetothetransformer.Neglectdielectriclossofthecable.

Solution:ThecircuitisdrawninFig.Ex.4.2

Theresistanceand reactanceofthetrans-

formerare

1 2002

× 4KΩ

100

5

100

0.1

2002

× 0.1

20KΩ

Fig.Ex.4.2

Theresistanceoftheinductorisalso4KΩ. Thecapacitivereactanceofcapacitor(TestSpecimen)

400 =

0.5 =800KΩ

willbe

Forresonance XL=X

C

Inductivereactanceoftransformeris20KΩ.Therefore,additionalinductivereactancerequired

800–20=780KΩ

780×1000 Theinductancerequired =

314 =2484H

Totalresistanceofthecircuit=8KΩ

underresonanceconditionthesupplyvoltage

(Secondaryvoltage) =IR=0.5×8=4kV

250 Therefore,primaryvoltage =4×

200 =5volts Ans. Questions:

1.Explainandcomparetheperformanceofhalfwaverectifierandvoltagedoublercircuitsforgenerationof

highd.c.voltages.

2.Defineripplevoltage.Showthattheripplevoltageinarectifiercircuitdependsupontheloadcurrentand

thecircuitparameters.

3.Explain with neat sketches Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplier circuit. Explain clearly its operationwhen



thecircuitis(i)unloaded(ii)loaded.

4. DeriveanexpressionforripplevoltageofamultistageCockroft-WaltonCircuit.

5. Deriveanexpressionforthevoltageoutputunderloadcondition.Hence,deducetheconditionforoptimal

numberofstageifamaximumvalueofoutputvoltageisdesired.

6. Describewithneatdiagramtheprincipleofoperationandapplicationofasymmetricalcascadedrectifier.

7. Explainclearlythebasicprincipleofoperationofanelectrostaticgenerator.Describewithneatdiagram

theprincipleofoperation,applicationandlimitationsofVandeGrafgenerator.

8. Whatisacascadedtransformer?Explainwhycascadingisdone?Describewithneatdiagramathreestage

cascadedtransformer.Labelthepowerratingsofvariousstagesofthetransformer.

9. Drawequivalentcircuitofa3-stagecascadedtransformeranddeterminetheexpressionforshortcircuit

impedanceofthetransformer.Hencededuceanexpressionfortheshort-circuitimpedanceofann-stage

cascadedtransformer.

10. Explain with neat diagram the basic principle of reactive power compensation is high voltage a.c.testing

ofinsulatingmaterials.

11.Explain with neat diagram the principle of operation of (i) series (ii)parallelresonantcircuitsforgenerat-

inghigha.c.voltages.Comparetheirperformance.

12. Explaintheseries-parallelresonantcircuitanddiscussitsadvantagesanddisadvantages.



















PART - B

UNIT -5 GENERATION OF IMPULSE VOLTAGES AND CURRENTS: Introduction to standard

lightning and switching impulse voltages. Analysis of single stage impulse generator-expression for

Output impulse voltage. Multistage impulse generator working of Marx impulse. Rating of impulse

generator. Components of multistage impulse generator. Triggering of impulse generator by three

electrode gap arrangement. Triggering gap and oscillograph time sweep circuits. Generation of

switching impulse voltage. Generation of high impulse current.

6 Hours

DEFINITIONS:IMPULSEVOLTAGE

Animpulsevoltageisaunidirectionalvoltagewhich,withoutappreciableoscillations,risesrapidlyto

amaximumvalueandfallsmoreorlessrapidlytozeroFig.5.4.Themaximumvalueiscalledthepeak value of

the impulse and the impulse voltage is specified by this value. Small oscillations are tolerated, provided

thattheiramplitudeislessthan5%ofthepeakvalueoftheimpulsevoltage.Incaseof

oscillationsinthewaveshape,ameancurveshouldbeconsidered.

Ifanimpulsevoltagedevelopswithoutcaus

ingflashoverorpuncture,itiscalledafullim

causingasuddencollapseoftheimpulsevoltage,

itiscalledachoppedimpulsevoltage.Afullim-

pulsevoltageischaracterisedbyitspeakvalueand

itstwotimeintervals,thewavefrontandwavetail

timeintervalsdefinedbelow:

The wavefronttimeofanimpulsewaveis

thetimetakenbythewavetoreachtoitsmaxi- mum

value starting from zero value. Usually it is

difficulttoidentifythestartandpeakpointsofthe

A

C

50% D

10%

t0 t1 t2 t3

Fig.5.1Fullimpulsewave



waveand,therefore,thewavefronttimeisspecifiedas4.25times(t2–t

1), wheret

2 isthetimeforthe

wavetoreachtoits90%ofthepeakvalueandt1

isthetimetoreach10%ofthepeakvalue.Since (t2–

t1)representsabout80%ofthewavefronttime,itismultipliedby4.25togivetotalwavefront time. The point

where the lineCB intersects the time axis is referred to be the nominal starting point of

thewave.

Thenominalwavetailtimeismeasuredbetweenthenominalstartingpointt0

andthepointon

thewavetailwherethevoltageis50%ofthepeakvaluei.e.wavefailtimeisexpressedas(t3–t

0).

Thenominalsteepnessofthewavefrontistheaveragerateofriseofvoltagebetweenthepoints

onthewavefrontwherethevoltageis10%and90%ofthepeakvaluerespectively.

ThestandardwaveshapespecifiedinBSSandISSisa1/50microsec.wavei.e.awavefrontof

1microsec.andawavetailof50microsec.Atoleranceofnotmorethan±50%onthedurationofthe

wavefrontand20%onthetimetohalfvalueonthewavetailisallowed.Thewaveiscompletely

specifiedas100kV,1/50microsec.where100kVisthepeakvalueofthewave.

The waveshaperecommendedbytheAmericanStandardAssociationis4.5/40microsec.with

permissiblevariationsof0.5microsec.onthewavefrontand±10microsec.onthewavetail.Here

wavefronttimeistakenas4.67timesthetimetakenbythewavetorisefrom30%to90%ofitspeak

valueandwavetailtimeiscomputedasinBSSorISSi.e.itisgivenas(t3 –t

0)Fig.5.4.

ChoppedWave

Ifanimpulsevoltageisappliedtoapieceofinsulationandifaflashoverorpunctureoccurscausing

suddencollapseoftheimpulsevoltage,itiscalledachoppedimpulsevoltage.Ifchoppingtakesplace

onthefrontpartofthewave,itisknownasfrontchoppedwave,Fig.5.2(a)else,itisknownsimplyas

achoppedwave,Fig.5.2(b).Again,ifchoppingtakesplaceonthefront,itisspecifiedbythepeak

valuecorrespondingtothechoppedvalueanditsnominalsteepnessistherateofriseofvoltagemeasuredbetwee

nthepointswherethevoltageis10%and90%respectivelyofthevoltageattheinstantofchopping.However,awa

vechoppedonthetailisspecifiedonthelinesoffullwave.



V V

t

(a)

t

(b)

Fig.5.2 Choppedwaves.(a)Frontchoppedwave(b)Choppedwave

ImpulseFlashOverVoltage

Wheneveranimpulsevoltageisappliedtoaninsulatingmediumofcertainthickness,flashovermayor

maynottakeplace.Ifoutofatotalofsaytenapplicationsofimpulsevoltageabout5ofthemflashover

thentheprobabilityofflashoverwiththatpeakvoltageoftheimpulsevoltageis50%.Therefore,a50

percentimpulseflashovervoltageisthepeakvalueofthatimpulseflashovervoltagewhichcauses

flashoveroftheobjectundertestforabouthalfthenumberofapplicationsofimpulses.However,itis

tobenotedthattheflashoveroccursataninstantsubsequenttotheattainmentofthepeakvalue.The

flashoveralsodependsuponthepolarity,durationofwavefrontandwavetailsoftheappliedimpulse voltages.

Iftheflashoveroccursmorethan50%ofthenumberofapplications,itisdefinedasimpulse

flashovervoltageinexcessof50%.

Theimpulseflashovervoltageforflashoveronthewavefrontisthevalueoftheimpulse

voltageattheinstantofflashoveronthewavefront.

ImpulsePunctureVoltage

Theimpulsepuncturevoltageisthepeakvalueoftheimpulsevoltagewhichcausespunctureofthe

materialwhenpunctureoccursonthewavetailandisthevalueofthevoltageattheinstantofpuncture

whenpunctureoccursonthewavefront.

ImpulseRatioforFlashOver

Theimpulseratioforflashoveristheratioofimpulseflashovervoltagetothepeakvalueofpower

frequencyflashovervoltage.

Theimpulseratioisnotaconstantforanyparticularobject,butdependsupontheshapeand

polarityoftheimpulsevoltage,thecharacteristicsofwhichshouldbespecifiedwhenimpulseratiosare quoted.

ImpulseRatioforPuncture

Theimpulseratioforpunctureistheratiooftheimpulsepuncturevoltagetothepeakvalueofthe

powerfrequencypuncturevoltage.



IMPULSEGENERATORCIRCUITS

Fig.5.3representsanexactequivalentcircuitofasinglestageimpulsegeneratoralongwithatypical load.

C1

isthecapacitanceofthegeneratorchargedfromad.c.sourcetoasuitablevoltagewhich

causesdischargethroughthespheregap.ThecapacitanceC1

mayconsistofasinglecapacitance,in

whichcasethegeneratorisknownasasinglestagegeneratororalternativelyifC1isthetotalcapacitance

ofagroupofcapacitorschargedinparallelandthendischargedinseries,itisthenknownasamultistage

generator.

Fig.5.3Exactequivalentcircuitofasinglestageimpulsegeneratorwithatypicalload

L1

istheinductanceofthegeneratorandtheleadsconnectingthegeneratortothedischarge

circuitandisusuallykeptassmallaspossible.TheresistanceR1consistsoftheinherentseriesresistance

ofthecapacitancesandleadsandoftenincludesadditionallumpedresistanceinsertedwithinthegenerator

fordampingpurposesandforoutputwaveformcontrol.L3,R

3 are theexternalelementswhichmaybe

connectedatthegeneratorterminalforwaveformcontrol.R2

andR4

control thedurationofthewave. However,

R4 alsoservesasapotentialdividerwhenaCROisusedformeasurementpurposes.C

2andC

4

representthecapacitancestoearthofthehighvoltagecomponentsandleads.C4

alsoincludesthe

capacitanceofthetestobjectandofanyotherloadcapacitancerequiredforproducingtherequired

waveshape.L4representstheinductanceofthetestobjectandmayalsoaffectthewaveshapeappreciably.

Usuallyforpracticalreasons,oneterminaloftheimpulsegeneratorissolidlygrounded.The

polarityoftheoutputvoltagecanbechangedbychangingthepolarityofthed.c.chargingvoltage.

Fortheevaluationofthevariousimpulsecircuitelements,theanalysisusingtheequivalent circuit of

Fig. 5.3 is quite rigorous and complex. Two simplified but more practical forms of impulse

generatorcircuitsareshowninFig.5.4(a)and(b).

G R1 G



C1 V0

i (t)

R2 C2

v(t)

C1 R2

R1

C1 v(t)

(a) (b)

Fig.5.4Simplifiedequivalentcircuitofanimpulsegenerator

Thetwocircuitsarewidelyusedanddifferonlyinthepositionofthewavetailcontrolresistance

R4.

WhenR2isontheloadsideofR

1(Fig.a)thetworesistancesformapotentialdividerwhichreduces

theoutputvoltagebutwhenR2 isonthegeneratorsideof R

1 (Fig.b)thisparticularlossofoutput voltageisabsent.

TheimpulsecapacitorC1ischargedthroughachargingresistance(notshown)toad.c.voltage

V0andthendischargedbyflashingovertheswitchinggapwithapulseofsuitablevalue.Thedesired

impulsevoltageappearsacrosstheloadcapacitanceC4.Thevalueofthecircuitelementsdetermines

theshapeoftheoutputimpulsevoltage.Thefollowinganalysiswillhelpusinevaluatingthecircuit

parametersforachievingaparticularwaveshapeoftheimpulsevoltage.

Table5.1

Valuesofαandβfortypicalwaveform

Wave α β

0.5/5

1/5

1/10

4.5/40

1/50

4.080

4.557

4.040

4.776

5.044

5.922

4.366

4.961

4.757

5.029



Table5.2

Calculationfora1/50microsec.wave

Timein

microsec. e–0.015t

e–6.073t (2)–(3) 4.01749(4)

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.8

4.0

4.1

4.2

4.0

10.0

50

48

47

4.0

0.998501

0.9970045

0.9955101

0.9940179

0.992528

0.9910403

0.9880717

0.9851119

0.9836353

0.982116

0.9704455

0.8607079

0.4723665

0.4867522

0.4941085

4.0

0.5448199

0.2968287

0.1617181

0.0881072

0.0480026

0.0261557

0.0077628

0.002342

0.0012554

0.00068396

5.3095×10–6

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.00

0.45368

0.7001757

0.8337919

0.9059106

0.9445253

0.9648875

0.9803088

0.9828076

0.9823798

0.981477

0.970445

0.8607079

0.4723665

0.4867522

0.4941085

0.0

0.4616148

0.71242

0.8483749

0.9217549

0.961045

0.9817633

0.9974577

4.0000

0.995616

0.998643

0.987418

0.87576

0.4806281

0.49526

0.5627

Table5.4

Approximatecapacitanceofsomeequipments

Equipment Capacitance γ

Lineinsulators,pininsulators

Bushings

Currenttransformers

Powertransformersupto1MVA

Powertransformersupto50MVA

Powertransformersabove100MVA

Cablesamplesfor10mlength

Experimentalsetupmeasuringupto100KV

Capacitor,leadsfora.c.testvoltageupto1000KV

25pF

150to400pF

200to600pF

1000to2000pF

10,000pF

30,000pF

2500pF

100pF

1000pF

1000

64.5

44.67

14.5

4.5

0.83

10.0

250

25



MULTISTAGEIMPULSEGENERATORCIRCUIT

Inordertoobtainhigherandhigherimpulsevoltage,asinglestagecircuitisinconvenientforthe

followingreasons:

(i)Thephysicalsizeofthecircuitelementsbecomesverylarge.

(ii)Highd.c.chargingvoltageisrequired.

(iii)Suppression of corona discharges from the structure and leads during the charging period is

difficult.

(iv)Switchingofvaryhighvoltageswithsparkgapsisdifficult.

In1923E.Marxsuggestedamultipliercircuitwhichiscommonlyusedtoobtainimpulsevoltages

withashighapeakvalueaspossibleforagivend.c.chargingvoltage.

Dependinguponthechargingvoltageavailableandtheoutputvoltagerequiredanumberof

identicalimpulsecapacitorsarechargedinparallelandthendischargedinseries,thusobtaininga

multipliedtotalchargingvoltagecorrespondingtothenumberofstages.Fig.5.7showsa3-stageimpulse

generatorcircuitduetoMarxemploying‘b’circuitconnections.TheimpulsecapacitorsC1arecharged

tothe charging voltage V0throughthehighchargingresistors R

cinparallel. When all the gapsGbreak

down,theC1′capacitancesareconnectedinseriessothatC

2 ischargedthroughtheseriesconnection

ofallthewavefrontresistancesR1′andfinallyallC

1′andC

2 willdischargethroughtheresistorsR

2′

andR1′.UsuallyR

c >>R

2 >>R

4.

IfinFig.5.7thewavetailresistors R2′ineachstageareconnectedinparalleltotheseries

combinationofR1′,GandC

1′,animpulsegeneratoroftypecircuit‘a’isobtained.

Inorder that the Marx circuit operates consistently it is essential to adjust the distances between

variousspheregapssuchthatthefirstgapG1

is onlyslightlylessthanthatofG2

and soon.Ifisalso

necessarythattheaxesofthegapsGbeinthesameverticalplanesothattheultravioletradiationsdue

tosparkinthefirstgapG,willirradiatetheothergaps.Thisensuresasupplyofelectronsreleasedfrom the

gapelectronstoinitiatebreakdownduringtheshortperiodwhenthegapsaresubjectedto overvoltages.



Thewavefrontcontrolresistancecanhavethreepossiblelocations(i)entirelywithinthegenerator

(ii)entirelyoutsidethegenerator(iii)partlywithinandpartlyoutsidethegenerator.

Thefirstarrangementisunsatisfactoryastheinductanceandcapacitanceoftheexternalleads

andtheloadformanoscillatorycircuitwhichrequirestobedampedbyanexternalresistance.The

secondarrangementisalsounsatisfactoryasasingleexternalfrontresistancewillhavetowithstand,

eventhoughforaveryshorttime,thefullratedvoltageandtherefore,willturnouttobeinconveniently long and

would occupy much space. A compromise between the two is the third arrangement as shown

inFig.5.7andthusboththe“spaceeconomy”anddampingofoscillationsaretakencareof.

ItcanbeseenthatFig.5.7canbereducedtothesinglestageimpulsegeneratorofFig.5.4 (b).

Afterthegeneratorhasfired,thetotaldischargecapacitanceC1

maybegivenas

1 n

1

theequivalentfrontresistance

C1

∑C1′

n

R1 =∑R1′ +R1″



andtheequivalenttailcontrolresistance

n

R2 =∑R2′

wherenisthenumberofstages.

GoodlethassuggestedanothercircuitshowninFig.5.8,forgenerationofimpulsevoltage

wheretheloadisearthedduringthechargingperiod,withoutthenecessityforanisolatinggap.The

impulseoutputvoltagehasthesamepolarityasthechargingvoltageiscaseofMarxcircuit,itis

reversedincaseofGoodletcircuit.Also,ondischarge,bothsidesofthefirstsparkgapareraisedtothe

chargingvoltageintheMarxcircuitbutincaseofGoodletcircuittheyattainearthpotential.

Fig.5.8Basicgoodletcircuit

TRIGGERINGANDSYNCHRONISATIONOFTHEIMPULSEGENERATOR

Impulsegeneratorsarenormallyoperatedinconjunctionwithcathoderayoscillographsformeasureme

nt andforstudyingtheeffectofimpulsewavesontheperformanceoftheinsulationsoftheequipments.

Sincetheimpulsewavesareofshorterduration,itisnecessarythattheoperationofthegeneratorand

theoscillograph should be synchronized accurately and if the wave front of the wave is to be recorded

accurately,thetimesweepcircuitoftheoscillographshouldbeinitiatedatatimeslightlybeforethe

impulsewavereachesthedeflectingplates.

If theimpulsegeneratoritselfinitiatesthesweepcircuitoftheoscillograph,itisthennecessary

toconnect a delay cable between the generator or the potential divider and the deflecting plates of the

oscilloscope so that the impulse wave reaches the plates at a controlled time after the sweep has been

tripped. However, the use of delay cable leads to inaccuracies in measurement. For this reason, some

trippingcircuitshavebeendevelopedwherethesweepcircuitisoperatedfirstandthenafteratimeof

about0.1to0.5µsec.thegeneratoristriggered.

Oneofthemethodsinvolvestheuseofathree-spheregapinthefirststageofthegeneratoras shown in

Fig. 5.10. The spacing between the spheres is so adjusted that the two series gaps are able to

withstandthechargingvoltageoftheimpulsegenerator.Ahighresistanceisconnectedbetweenthe

outerspheresanditscentrepointisconnectedtothecontrolspheresothatthevoltagebetweenthe



outerspheresisequallydividedbetweenthetwogaps.Ifthegeneratorisnowchargedtoavoltage slightly less

than the breakdown voltage of the gaps, the breakdown can be achieved at any instant by

applyinganimpulseofeitherpolarityandofapeakvoltagenotlessthanonefifthofthecharging

voltagetothecontrolsphere.

Theoperationisexplainedasfollows.TheswitchSisclosedwhichinitiatesthesweepcircuitof the

oscillograph. The same impulse is applied to the grid of the thyratron tube. The inherent time delay

ofthethyratronensuresthatthesweepcircuitbeginstooperatebeforethestartofthehighvoltageimpulse.

Afurtherdelaycanbeintroducedifrequiredbymeansofacapacitance-resistancecircuitR1C

4.The

trippingimpulseisappliedthroughthecapacitorC4.Duringthechargnigperiodofthegeneratorthe

anodeofthethyratrontubeisheldatapositivepotentialofabout20kV.Thegridisheldatnegativepotentialwithth

ehelpofbatteryBsothatitdoesnotconductduringthechargingperiod.Astheswitch

Sisclosed,thetriggerpulseisappliedtothegridofthethyratrontubewhichconductsandanegative

impulseof20kVisappliedtothecentralspherewhichtriggerstheimpulsegenerator.



Fig.5.11showsatrigatrongapwhichisusedasthefirstgapoftheimpulsegeneratorand

consistsessentiallyofathree-electrodegap.Thehighvoltageelectrodeisasphereandtheearthed electrode

may be a sphere, a semi-sphere or any other configuration which gives homogeneous electric

field.Asmallholeisdrilledintotheearthedelectrodeintowhichametalrodprojects.Theannulargap

betweentherodandthesurroundinghemisphereisabout1mm.Aglasstubeisfittedovertherod

electrodeandissurroundedbyametalfoilwhichisconnectedtotheearthedhemisphere.Themetal

rodortriggerelectrodeformsthethirdelectrode,beingessentiallyatthesamepotentialasthedrilled electrode,

as it is connected to it through a high resistance, so that the control or tripping pulse can be

appliedbetweenthesetwoelectrodes.Whenatrippingpulseisappliedtotherod,thefieldisdistorted

inthemaingapandthelatterbreaksdownatavoltageappreciablylowerthanthatrequiredtocauseits breakdown

in the absence of the tripping pulse. The function of the glass tube is to promote corona discharge round

the rod as this causes photoionisation in the annular gap and the main gap and

consequentlyfacilitatestheirrapidbreakdown.

Fig.5.11Thetrigatronsparkgap

For single stage or multi-stage impulse generators the trigatron gaps have been found quite

satisfactoryandtheserequireatrippingvoltageofabout5kVofeitherpolarity.Thetrippingcircuits

usedtodayarecommerciallyavailableandprovideingeneraltwoorthreetrippingpulsesoflower

amplitudes.Fig.5.12showsatypicaltrippingcircuit.Thecapacitor C1

ischargedthroughahigh

resistanceR4.AstheremotelycontrolledswitchSisclosed,apulseisappliedtothesweepcircuitofthe

oscillographthroughthecapacitorC5.AtthesametimethecapacitorC

2

ischargedupandatriggeringpulseisappliedtothetriggerelectrodeofthetrigatron.Therequisitedelayintriggeri



ngthegenerator

canbeprovidedbysuitablyadjustingthevaluesofR2andC

4.TheresidualchargeonC

2canbedischarged

throughahighresistanceR5.Thesedayslasersarealsousedfortrippingthesparkgap.

Thetrigatronalsohasaphaseshiftingcircuitassociatedwithitsoastosynchronisetheinitiation

timewithanexternalalternatingvoltage.Thus,itispossibletocombinehighalternatingvoltagetests

withasuperimposedimpulsewaveofadjustablephaseangle.

Fig.5.12Atypicaltrippingcircuitofatrigatron

Thetrigatronisdesignedsoastopreventtheoverchargingoftheimpulsecapacitorsincaseof

anaccidentalfailureoftriggering.Anindicatingdeviceshowswhetherthegeneratorisgoingtofire

correctlyornot.Anadditionalfeedbackcircuitprovidesforasafewavechoppingandoscillograph

release,independentoftheemittedcontrolpulse.

IMPULSECURRENTGENERATION

Theimpulsecurrentwaveisspecifiedonthesimilarlinesasanimpulsevoltagewave.Atypicalimpulse

currentwaveisshowninFig.5.15.

High currentimpulsegeneratorsusually

consist of a large number of capacitors

connected in parallel to the common discharge

path.Atypicalimpulsecurrentgeneratorcircuit

isshowninFig.5.14.

Theequivalentcircuitofthegenerator

isshowninFig.5.15andapproximatestothat

ofacapacitanceCchargedtoavoltageV0whichcan

be consideredtodischargethroughan

inductanceLandaresistanceR.Inpracticeboth L

and Raretheeffectiveinductanceand

resistance of the leads, capacitors and the test

objects.

Fig.5.13Atypicalimpulsecurrentwave

AnalysisofImpulseCurrentGeneratorRefertoFig.5.15

AfterthegapSistriggered,theLaplacetransformcurrentisgivenas



F

=

G

V0 1 I(s)=

s R+sL+1/Cs

=V

. 1

L s2 +R/Ls+1/LC

=V

. L

1

(s +α)2 +ω2

whereα= R

F 1 and ω= R2I 1/2

–

2L LC 4L2

1

H

R2CI

J

1/2

1

2 1/2

or ω= 1− LC

R C where ν=

2 L

4LK = (1–ν) LC

TakingtheinverseLaplacewehavethecurrent

i(t) = V

ωL

e–αt

sinωt

(5.25)

Forcurrenti(t)tobemaximumdi(t)

0

di(t) V

= dt ωL

dt

[ωe–αtcosωt–αe–αtsinωt]=0

= V

e–αt[ωcosωt–αsinωt]=0 ωL



1.Definetheterms(i)Impulsevoltages;(ii)Choppedwave;(iii)Impulseflashovervoltage;(iv)Impulse

puncturevoltage;(v)Impulseratioforflashover;(vi)Impulseratioforpuncture.

2.DrawaneatexactequivalentcircuitofanImpulseGeneratorandindicatethesignificanceofeachparameter beingused.

3.Drawandcomparethetwosimplifiedequivalentcircuitsoftheimpulsegeneratorcircuits(a)and(b).

4. Givecompleteanalysisofcircuit‘a’ andshowthatthewavefrontandwavetailresistancesarephysically

realisableonlyundercertaincondition.Derivethecondition.

5. Givecompleteanalysisofcircuit‘b’andderivetheconditionforphysicalrealisationofwavefrontand

wavetailresistances.

6. Deriveanexpressionforvoltageefficiencyofasinglestageimpulsegenerator

7. Describetheconstruction,principleofoperationandapplicationofamultistageMarx'sSurgeGenerator.

8. ExplaintheGoodletcircuitofimpulsevoltagegenerationandcompareitsperformancewiththatofMarx’x

Circuit.

9. Describetheconstructionofvariouscomponentsusedinthedevelopmentofanimpulsegenerator.

10. ExplainwithneatdiagramtriggeringandsynchronisationoftheimpulsegeneratorwiththeCRO.

11.Drawatypicalimpulsecurrentgeneratorcircuitandexplainitsoperationandapplication.

12.Drawaneatdiagramofahighcurrentgeneratorcircuit(equivalentcircuit)andthroughanalysisofthe

circuitshowhowthewaveformcanbecontrolled.



UNIT- 6

MEASUREMENT OF HIGH VOLTAGES: Electrostatic voltmeter-principle, construction

and limitation. Chubb and Fortescue method for HV AC measurement. Generating voltmeter-

Principle, construction. Series resistance micro ammeter for HV DC measurements. Standard

sphere gap measurements of HV AC, HV DC, and impulse voltages; Factors affecting the

measurements. Potential dividers-resistance dividers capacitance dividers mixed RC potential

dividers.Measurement of high impulse currents-Rogogowsky coil and Magnetic Links

10Hours

INTRODUCTION

Transientmeasurementshavemuchincommonwithmeasurementsofsteadystatequantitiesbutthe

short-livednatureofthetransientswhichwearetryingtorecordintroducesspecialproblems.Frequently the

transient quantity to be measured is not recorded directly because of its large magnitudese.g. when

ashuntisusedtomeasurecurrent,wereallymeasurethevoltageacrosstheshuntandthenweassume

thatthevoltageisproportionaltothecurrent,afactwhichshouldnotbetakenforgrantedwithtransient

currents.Oftenthevoltageappearingacrosstheshuntmaybeinsufficienttodrivethemeasuringdevice;

itrequiresamplification.Ontheotherhand,ifthevoltagetobemeasuredistoolargetobemeasured

withtheusualmeters,itmustbeattenuated.Thissuggestsanideaofameasuringsystemratherthana

measuringdevice.

Measurements ofhighvoltagesandcurrentsinvolvesmuchmorecomplexproblemswhicha

specialist,incommonelectricalmeasurement,doesnothavetoface.Thehighvoltageequipments

havelargestraycapacitanceswithrespecttothegroundedstructuresandhencelargevoltagegradients

aresetup.Apersonhandlingtheseequipmentsandthemeasuringdevicesmustbeprotectedagainst

theseovervoltages.Forthis,largestructuresarerequiredtocontroltheelectricalfieldsandtoavoid flashover

betweentheequipmentandthegroundedstructures.Sometimes,thesestructuresarere-

quiredtocontrolheatdissipationwithinthecircuits.Therefore,thelocationandlayoutoftheequipments is very

important to avoid these problems. Electromagnetic fields create problems in the measurements

ofimpulsevoltagesandcurrentsandshouldbeminimized.

Thechapterisdevotedtodescribingvariousdevicesandcircuitsformeasurementofhighvoltages

andcurrents.Theapplicationofthedevicetothetypeofvoltagesandcurrentsisalsodiscussed.

ELECTROSTATICVOLTMETER



The electricfieldaccordingtoCoulombisthefieldofforces.Theelectricfieldisproducedbyvoltage

and,therefore,ifthefieldforcecouldbemeasured,thevoltagecanalsobemeasured.Whenevera

voltageisappliedtoaparallelplateelectrodearrangement,anelectricfieldissetupbetweentheplates.

Itispossibletohaveuniformelectricfieldbetweentheplateswithsuitablearrangementoftheplates.

Thefieldisuniform,normaltothetwoplatesanddirectedtowardsthenegativeplate.IfAistheareaoftheplateand

Eistheelectricfieldintensitybetweentheplatesεthepermittivityofthemediumbetweentheplates,weknowtha

ttheenergydensityoftheelectricfieldbetweentheplatesisgivenas,

1 2

Wd=

2 εE

Consideradifferentialvolumebetweentheplatesandparalleltotheplateswitharea Aand

thicknessdx,theenergycontentinthisdifferentialvolumeAdxis

Electrostaticvoltmetersmeasuretheforcebasedontheaboveequationsandarearrangedsuch

thatoneoftheplatesisrigidlyfixedwhereastheotherisallowedtomove.Withthistheelectricfield

getsdisturbed.Forthisreason,themovableelectrodeisallowedtomovebynotmorethanafractionof

amillimetretoafewmillimetresevenforhighvoltagessothatthechangeinelectricfieldisnegligibly

small.AstheforceisproportionaltosquareofVrms

,themetercanbeusedbothfora.c.andd.c.voltage

measurement.

The forcedevelopedbetweentheplatesissufficienttobeusedtomeasurethevoltage.Various

designsofthevoltmeterhavebeendevelopedwhichdifferintheconstructionofelectrodearrangement

andintheuseofdifferentmethodsofrestoringforcesrequiredtobalancetheelectrostaticforceof

attraction.Someofthemethodsare

(i)Suspensionofmovingelectrodeononearmofabalance.

(ii)Suspensionofthemovingelectrodeonaspring.

(iii)Penduloussuspensionofthemovingelectrode.

(iv)Torsionalsuspensionofmovingelectrode.

Thesmallmovementisgenerallytransmittedandamplifiedbyelectricaloropticalmethods.If

theelectrodemovementisminimisedandthefielddistributioncanexactlybecalculated,themetercan

beusedforabsolutevoltagemeasurementasthecalibrationcanbemadeintermsofthefundamental

quantitiesoflengthandforce.

Fromtheexpressionfortheforce,itisclearthatforagivenvoltagetobemeasured,thehigher



theforce,thegreateristheprecisionthatcanbeobtainedwiththemeter.Inordertoachievehigher

forceforagivenvoltage,theareaoftheplatesshouldbelarge,thespacingbetweentheplates(d)

shouldbesmallandsomedielectricmediumotherthanairshouldbeusedinbetweentheplates.If

uniformityofelectricfieldistobemaintainedanincreaseinareaAmustbeaccompaniedbyanincrease

intheareaofthesurroundingguardringandoftheopposingplateandtheelectrodemay,therefore,

becomeundulylargespeciallyforhighervoltages.Similarlythegaplengthcannotbemadeverysmall

asthisislimitedbythebreakdownstrengthofthedielectricmediumbetweentheplates.Ifairisusedas

themedium,gradientsupto5kV/cmhavebeenfoundsatisfactory.ForhighergradientsvacuumorSF6

gashasbeenused.

The greatestadvantageoftheelectrostaticvoltmeterisitsextremelylowloadingeffectasonly

electricfieldsarerequiredtobesetup.Becauseofhighresistanceofthemediumbetweentheplates,

theactivepowerlossisnegligiblysmall.Thevoltagesourceloadingis,therefore,limitedonlytothe

reactivepowerrequiredtochargetheinstrumentcapacitancewhichcanbeaslowasafewpicofarads

forlowvoltagevoltmeters.

The measuringsystemassuchdoesnotputanyupperlimitonthefrequencyofsupplytobe

measured.However,astheloadinductanceandthemeasuringsystemcapacitanceformaseries resonance

circuit,alimitisimposedonthefrequencyrange.Forlowrangevoltmeters,theupperfrequencyis

generallylimitedtoafewMHz.

Fig.6.7showsaschematicdiagramofanabsoluteelectrostaticvoltmeter.Thehemispherical

metaldomeDenclosesasensitivebalanceBwhichmeasurestheforceofattractionbetweenthemovable

discwhichhangsfromoneofitsarmsandthelowerplateP.ThemovableelectrodeMhangswitha

clearanceofabove0.01cm,inacentralopeningintheupperplatewhichservesasaguard ring. The

diameterofeachoftheplatesis1metre.Lightreflectedfromamirrorcarriedbythebalancebeam serves to

magnify its motion and to indicate to the operator at a safe distance when a condition of

equilibriumisreached.Asthespacingbetweenthetwoelectrodesislarge(about100cmsforavoltage

ofabout300kV),theuniformityoftheelectricfieldismaintainedbytheguardringsGwhichsurround

thespacebetweenthediscsMandP.TheguardringsG aremaintainedataconstantpotentialinspace

byacapacitancedividerensuringauniformspatialpotentialdistribution.Whenvoltagesintherange

10to100kVaremeasured,theaccuracyisoftheorderof0.01percent.



Hueterhasusedapairofspharesof100cmsdiameterforthemeasurementofhighvoltages

utilisingtheelectrostaticattractiveforcebetweenthem.Thespheresarearrangedwithaverticalaxis

andataspacingslightlygreaterthanthesparkingdistancefortheparticularvoltagetobemeasured. The

upperhighvoltagesphereissupportedonaspringandtheextensionofspringcausedbythe

electrostaticforceismagnifiedbyalamp-mirrorscalearrangement.Anaccuracyof0.5percenthas

beenachievedbythearrangement.

Electrostaticvoltmetersusingcompressedgasastheinsulatingmediumhavebeendeveloped.

Hereforagivenvoltagetheshortergaplengthenablestherequireduniformityofthefieldtobe

maintainedwithelectrodesofsmallersizeandamorecompactsystemcanbeevolved.

Onesuch voltmeter using SF6gashasbeenusedwhichcanmeasurevoltagesupto1000kVand

accuracyisoftheorderof0.1%.Thehighvoltageelectrodeandearthedplaneprovideuniformelectric

fieldwithintheregionofa5cmdiameterdiscsetina65cmdiameterguardplane.Aweighingbalanc



arrangementisusedtoallowalargedampingmass.Thegaplengthcanbevariedbetween4.5,5and10cmsanddu

etomaximumworkingelectricstressof100kV/cm,thevoltagerangescanbeselected

to250kV,500kVand100kV.With100kV/cmasgradient,theaverageforceonthediscisfoundtobe0.8681Nequ

ivalentto88.52gmwt.Thediscmovementsarekeptassmallas1µmbytheweighingbalancearrangement.

Thevoltmetersareusedforthemeasurementofhigha.c.andd.c.voltages.Themeasurementof

voltageslowerthanabout50voltis,however,notpossible,astheforcesbecometoosmall.

GENERATINGVOLTMETER

Wheneverthesourceloadingisnotpermittedorwhendirectconnectiontothehighvoltagesourceisto

beavoided,thegeneratingprincipleisemployedforthemeasurementofhighvoltages,Agenerating voltmeter

is a variable capacitor electrostatic voltage generator which generates current proportional to

thevoltagetobemeasured.Similartoelectrostaticvoltmeterthegeneratingvoltmeterprovidesloss

freemeasurementofd.c.anda.c.voltages.Thedeviceisdrivenbyanexternalconstantspeedmotor

anddoesnotabsorbpowerorenergyfromthevoltagemeasuringsource.Theprincipleofoperationis

explainedwiththehelpofFig.6.8.Hisahighvoltageelectrodeandtheearthedelectrodeissubdivided

intoasensingorpickupelectrodeP,aguardelectrodeGandamovableelectrodeM,allofwhichare

atthesamepotential.ThehighvoltageelectrodeHdevelopsanelectricfieldbetweenitselfandthe

electrodesP,GandM.ThefieldlinesareshowninFig.6.8.Theelectricfielddensityσisalsoshown.

IfelectrodeMisfixedandthevoltageVischanged,thefielddensityσwouldchangeandthusacurrent

i(t)wouldflowbetweenPandtheground.

Fig.6.8Principleofgeneratingvoltmeter

z σ(a)da

Fig.6.10showsaschematicdiagramofageneratingvoltmeterwhichemploysrotatingvanes



forvariationofcapacitance.ThehighvoltageelectrodeisconnectedtoadiscelectrodeD3

whichis

keptatafixeddistanceontheaxisoftheotherlowvoltageelectrodesD2,D1,andD0.TherotorD0is

drivenataconstantspeedbyasynchronousmotoratasuitablespeed.TherotorvanesofD0cause

periodicchangeincapacitancebetweentheinsulateddiscD2andthehighvoltageelectrodeD

5.The

numberandshapeofvanesaresodesignedthatasuitablevariationofcapacitance(sinusodialorlinear)

isachieved.Thea.c.currentisrectifiedandismeasuredusingmovingcoilmeters.Ifthecurrentis

smallanamplifiermaybeusedbeforethecurrentismeasured.

Fig.6.10Schematicdiagramofgeneratingvoltmeter

Generatingvoltmetersarelinearscaleinstrumentsandapplicableoverawiderangeofvoltages.

Thesensitivitycanbeincreasedbyincreasingtheareaofthepickupelectrodeandbyusingamplifier circuits.

Themainadvantagesofgeneratingvoltmetersare(i)scaleislinearandcanbeextrapolated

(ii)sourceloadingispracticallyzero(iii)nodirectconnectiontothehighvoltageelectrode.

However,theyrequirecalibrationandconstructionisquitecumbersome.

Thebreakdownofinsulatingmaterialsdependsuponthemagnitudeofvoltageappliedandthe

timeofapplicationofvoltage.However,ifthepeakvalueofvoltageislargeascomparedtobreakdown strength

of the insulating material, the disruptive discharge phenomenon is in general caused by the

instantaneousmaximumfieldgradientstressingthematerial.Variousmethodsdiscussedsofarcan

measurepeakvoltagesbutbecauseofcomplexcalibrationproceduresandlimitedaccuracycallformoreconven

ientandmoreaccuratemethods.Amoreconvenientthoughlessaccuratemethodwould



betheuseofatestingtransformerwhereintheoutputvoltageismeasuredandrecordedandtheinput

voltageisobtainedbymultiplyingtheoutputvoltagebythetransformationratio.However,herethe

outputvoltagedependsupontheloadingofthesecondarywindingandwaveshapevariationiscaused

bythetransformerimpedancesandhencethismethodisunacceptableforpeakvoltagemeasurements.

THECHUBB-FORTESCUEMETHOD

ChubbandFortescuesuggestedasimpleandaccuratemethodofmeasuringpeakvalueofa.c.voltages. The

basiccircuitconsistsofastandardcapacitor,twodiodesandacurrentintegratingammeter

(MCammeter)asshowninFig.6.11(a).

v(t) C

C

ic (t) Rd

D1 D2

D1 D2

A A

(a) (b)

Fig.6.11(a)Basiccircuit(b)Modifiedcircuit

Thedisplacementcurrentic(t),Fig.6.12isgivenbytherateofchangeofthechargeandhence

thevoltageV(t)tobemeasuredflowsthroughthehighvoltagecapacitorCandissubdividedinto positive and

negative components by the back to back connected diodes. The voltage drop across these

diodescanbeneglected(1VforSidiodes)ascomparedwiththevoltagetobemeasured.Themeasuring

instrument(M.C.ammeter)isincludedinoneofthebranches.Theammeterreadsthemeanvalueof thecurrent.

I= 1

t2 dv(t) C C dt= .2V =2V fCorV =

I

T 1 dt T 2fC



Therelationissimilartotheoneobtainedincaseofgeneratingvoltmeters.Anincreasedcurrent

wouldbeobtainedifthecurrentreacheszeromorethanonceduringonehalfcycle.Thismeansthe

waveshapesofthevoltagewouldcontainmorethanonemaximaperhalfcycle.Thestandarda.c.

voltagesfortestingshouldnotcontainanyharmonicsand,therefore,therecouldbeveryshortand

rapidvoltagescausedbytheheavypredischarges,withinthetestcircuitwhichcouldintroduceerrorsin

measurements.Toeliminatethisproblemfilteringofa.c.voltageiscarriedoutbyintroducingadamping

resistorinbetweenthecapacitorandthediodecircuit,Fig.6.11(b).

Fig.6.12

Also,iffullwaverectifierisusedinsteadofthehalfwaveasshowninFig.6.11,thefactor2in

thedenominatoroftheaboveequationshouldbereplacedby6.Sincethefrequencyf,thecapacitance

CandcurrentIcanbemeasuredaccurately,themeasurementofsymmetricala.c.voltagesusingChubb

andFortescuemethodisquiteaccurateanditcanbeusedforcalibrationofotherpeakvoltagemeasuring devices.

Fig.6.13showsadigitalpeakvoltagemeasuringcircuit.Incontrasttothemethoddiscussedjust

now,therectifiedcurrentisnotmeasureddirectly,insteadaproportionalanalogvoltagesignalisderived

whichisthenconvertedintoaproportionalmediumfrequencyforusingavoltagetofrequencyconvertor

(BlockAinFig.6.13).Thefrequencyratiofm/fismeasuredwithagatecircuitcontrolledbythea.c.

powerfrequency(supplyfrequencyf)andacounterthatopensforanadjustablenumberofperiod

∆t=p/f.Thenumberofcyclesncountedduringthisintervalis



dq(t) d

Whereσ(a)istheelectricfielddensityorchargedensityalongsomepathandisassumedconstantover the

differential areadaof the pick up electrode. In this caseσ(a) is a function of time also and∫da the

areaofthepickupelectrodePexposedtotheelectricfield.

However,ifthevoltageVtobemeasuredisconstant(d.cvoltage),acurrenti(t)willflowonly

ifitismovedi.e.nowσ(a)willnotbefunctionoftimebutthechargeqischangingbecausetheareaof

thepickupelectrodeexposedtotheelectricfieldischanging.Thecurrenti(t)isgivenby

PeakVoltmeterswithPotentialDividers

Passivecircuitsarenotveryfrequentlyusedthesedaysformeasurementofthepeakvalueofa.c.or

impulsevoltages.Thedevelopmentoffullyintegratedoperationalamplifiersandotherelectroniccircuits

hasmadeitpossibletosampleandholdsuchvoltagesandthusmakemeasurementsand,therefore,

havereplacedtheconventionalpassivecircuits.However,itistobenotedthatifthepassivecircuitsare designed

properly,theyprovidesimplicityandadequateaccuracyandhenceasmalldescriptionof

thesecircuitsisinorder.Passivecircuitsarecheap,

reliable andhaveahighorderofelectromagnetic

compatibility. However, in contrast, the most

sophisticatedelectronicinstrumentsarecostlierand

theirelectromagneticcompatibility(EMC)islow.

The passive circuits cannot measure high

voltages directly and use potential dividers

preferablyofthecapacitancetype.

Fig. 6.14 shows a simple peak voltmeter

circuitconsistingofacapacitorvoltagedivider

whichreducesthevoltageVtobemeasuredtoa

lowvoltageVm.

Fig.6.14Peakvoltmeter

SupposeR2

andRd

are notpresentandthesupplyvoltageisV.Thevoltageacrossthestorage

capacitorCswillbeequaltothepeakvalueofvoltageacrossC

2assumingvoltagedropacrossthediode

tobenegligiblysmall.Thevoltagecouldbemeasuredbyanelectrostaticvoltmeterorothersuitable

voltmeterswithveryhighinputimpedance.Ifthereversecurrentthroughthediodeisverysmalland



thedischarge time constant of the storage capacitor very large, the storage capacitor will not discharge

significantly for a long time and hence it will hold the voltage to its value for a long time. If now, Vis

decreased,thevoltageV2decreasesproportionatelyandsincenowthevoltageacrossC

2issmallerthan

thevoltageacross Cs

towhichitisalreadycharged,therefore,thediodedoesnotconductandthe

voltageacrossCsdoesnotfollowthevoltageacrossC

4.Hence,adischargeresistorR

d mustbeintroduced

intothecircuitsothatthevoltageacrossCsfollowsthevoltageacrossC

4.Frommeasurementpointof

viewitisdesirablethatthequantitytobemeasuredshouldbeindicatedbythemeterwithinafew

secondsandhenceRdissochosenthat R

dC

s≈1sec.Asaresultofthis,followingerrorsareintroduced.

WiththeconnectionofRd,thevoltageacrossC

swilldecreasecontinuouslyevenwhentheinputvoltage

iskeptconstant.Also,itwilldischargethecapacitorC2andthemeanpotentialofV

2(t)willgaina

negatived.c.component.HencealeakageresistorR2mustbeinsertedinparallelwithC

2toequalise

theseunipolardischargecurrents.Theseconderrorcorrespondstothevoltageshapeacrossthestorage

capacitorwhichcontainsrippleandisduetothedischargeofthecapacitorCs.Iftheinputimpedance ofthe

measuring device is very high, the ripple is independent of the meter being used. The error is

approximately proportional to the ripple factor and is thus frequency dependent as the discharge time-

constantcannotbechanged.IfRdC

s=1sec,thedischargeerroramountsto1%for50Hzand0.33%.

for150Hz.Thethirdsourceoferrorisrelatedtothisdischargeerror.Duringtheconductiontime

(whenthevoltageacrossCsislowerthanthatacrossC

2 becauseofdischargeofC

s throughR

d)ofthe

diodethestoragecapacitorCsis rechargedtothepeakvalueandthusC

sbecomesparallelwithC

4.If

dischargeerrorised,rechargeerrore

r isgivenby

C e =2e s

r d C +C +C

1 2 s

HenceCsshouldbesmallascomparedwith

C2tokeepdowntherechargeerror.

Ithasalsobeenobservedthatinorderto keep

the overall error to a low value, it is desirable

tohaveahighvalueofR4.Thesameeffectcanbe

obtainedbyprovidinganequalisingarmtothelow

voltagearmofthevoltagedividerasshownin

Fig.6.15.Thisisaccomplishedbytheadditionof

Fig.6.15Modifiedpeakvoltmetercircuit

asecondnetworkcomprisingdiode,CsandR

dfornegativepolaritycurrentstothecircuitshowninFig.

6.16.Withthis,thed.c.currentsinbothbranchesareoppositeinpolarityandequaliseeachother.The

errorsduetoR2

arethuseliminated.

RabusdevelopedanothercircuitshowninFig.6.16.toreduceerrorsduetoresistances.Two



storagecapacitorsareconnectedbyaresistorRswithineverybranchandbotharedischargedbyonly

oneresistanceRd.

D2 D2

Rs

D1 D1

Cs2 Cs1 Rd Rd Cs1 Cs2 Vm

Fig.6.16Two-wayboostercircuitdesignedbyRabus

HerebecauseofthepresenceofRs,thedischargeofthestoragecapacitorC

s2isdelayedand

hencetheinherentdischargeerroredisreduced.However,sincethesearetwostoragecapacitorswithin

onebranch,theywoulddrawmorechargefromthecapacitorC2andhencetherechargeerrore

rwould

increase.Itis,therefore,amatterofdesigningvariouselementsinthecircuitsothatthetotalsumofall

theerrorsisaminimum.Ithasbeenobservedthatwiththecommonlyusedcircuitelementsinthe

voltagedividers,theerrorcanbekepttowellwithinabout1%evenforfrequenciesbelow20Hz.

ThecapacitorC1hastowithstandhighvoltagetobemeasuredandisalwaysplacedwithinthe

testareawhereasthelowvoltagearmC2includingthepeakcircuitandinstrumentformameasuring

unitlocatedinthecontrolarea.Henceacoaxialcableisalwaysrequiredtoconnectthetwoareas.The cable

capacitancecomesparallelwiththecapacitance C2

whichisusuallychangedinstepsifthe

voltage to be measured is changed. A change of the length of the cable would, thus, also require

recalibrationofthesystem.Thesheathofthecoaxialcablepicksuptheelectrostaticfieldsandthus

preventsthepenetrationofthisfieldtothecoreoftheconductor.Also,eventhoughtransientmagnetic

fieldswillpenetrateintothecoreofthecable,noappreciablevoltage(extraneousofnoise)isinduced due to the

symmetrical arrangement and hence a coaxial cable provides a good connection between the two

areas.Whenever,adischargetakesplaceatthehighvoltageendofcapacitor C1 tothecable

connectionwherethecurrentlooksintoachangeinimpedanceahighvoltageofshortdurationmaybe

builtupatthelowvoltageendofthecapacitorC1

whichmustbelimitedbyusinganovervoltage

protectiondevice(protectiongap).Thesedeviceswillalsopreventcompletedamageofthemeasuring

circuitiftheinsulationofC1fails.



SPHEREGAP

Spheregapisbynowconsideredasoneofthestandardmethodsforthemeasurementofpeakvalueof

d.c.,a.c.andimpulsevoltagesandisusedforcheckingthevoltmetersandothervoltagemeasuring

devicesusedinhighvoltagetestcircuits.Twoidenticalmetallicspheresseparatedbycertaindistance

formaspheregap.Thespheregapcanbeusedformeasurementofimpulsevoltageofeitherpolarity

providedthattheimpulseisofastandardwaveformandhaswavefronttimeatleast1microsec.and

wavetailtimeof5microsec.Also,thegaplengthbetweenthesphereshouldnotexceedasphere

radius.Iftheseconditionsaresatisfiedandthespecificationsregardingtheshape,mounting,clearancesofthesp

heresaremet,theresultsobtainedbytheuseofspheregapsarereliabletowithin±3%.Ithas

beensuggestedinstandardspecificationthatinplaceswheretheavailabilityofultravioletradiationis

low,irradiationofthegapbyradioactiveorotherionizingmediashouldbeusedwhenvoltagesof magnitude less

than 50 kV are being measured or where higher voltages with accurate results are to be obtained.

In ordertounderstandtheimportanceofirradiationofspheregapformeasurementofimpulse

voltagesespeciallywhichareofshortduration,itisnecessarytounderstandthetime-laginvolvedin

thedevelopmentofsparkprocess.Thistimelagconsistsoftwocomponents—(i)Thestatisticaltime-

lagcausedbytheneedofanelectrontoappearinthegapduringtheapplicationofthevoltage.(ii)The

formativetimelagwhichisthetimerequiredforthebreakdowntodeveloponceinitiated.

Thestatisticaltime-lagdependsontheirradiationlevelofthegap.Ifthegapissufficiently

irradiatedsothatanelectronexistsinthegaptoinitiatethesparkprocessandifthegapissubjectedto

animpulsevoltage,thebreakdownwilltakeplacewhenthepeakvoltageexceedsthed.c.breakdown

value.However,iftheirradiationlevelislow,thevoltagemustbemaintainedabovethed.c.break-

downvalueforalongerperiodbeforeanelectronappears.Variousmethodshavebeenusedforirradia- tione.g.

radioactivematerial,ultravioletilluminationassuppliedbymercuryarclampandcoronadischarges.

Ithasbeenobservedthatlargevariationcanoccurinthestatisticaltime-lagcharacteristicofa gap

whenilluminatedbyaspecifiedlightsource,unlessthecathodeconditionsarealsopreciselyspecified.

Irradiation byradioactivematerialshastheadvantageinthattheycanformastablesourceof

irradiationandthattheyproduceanamountofionisationinthegapwhichislargelyindependentofthe gap

voltageandofthesurfaceconditionsoftheelectrode.Theradioactivematerialmaybeplaced

insidehighvoltageelectrodeclosebehindthesparkingsurfaceortheradioactivematerialmayform

thesparkingsurface.



Theinfluenceofthelightfromtheimpulsegeneratorsparkgapontheoperationofthesphere

gapshasbeenstudied.Heretheilluminationisintenseandoccursattheexactinstantwhenitisre-

quired,namely,attheinstantofapplicationofthevoltagewavetothespheregap.

Theformativetimelagdependsmainlyuponthemechanismofsparkgrowth.Incaseofsecond-

aryelectronemission,itisthetransittimetakenbythepositiveiontotravelfromanodetocathodethat

decidesthatformativetimelag.Theformativetime-lagdecreaseswiththeappliedovervoltageand

increasewithgaplengthandfieldnon-uniformity.

SpecificationsonSpheresandAssociatedAccessories

Thespheresshouldbesomadethattheirsurfacesaresmoothandtheircurvaturesasuniformaspossible.

Thecurvatureshouldbemeasuredbyaspherometeratvariouspositionsoveranareaenclosedbya

circleofradius0.3Daboutthesparkingpointwhere Disthediameterofthesphereandsparking

pointsonthetwospheresarethosewhichareatminimumdistancesfromeachother.

Forsmallersize,thespheresareplacedinhorizontalconfigurationwhereaslargesizes(diameters),

thespheresaremountedwiththeaxisofthespheregapsverticalandthelowersphereisgrounded.In

eithercase,itisimportantthatthespheresshouldbesoplacedthatthespacebetweenspheresisfree

fromexternalelectricfieldsandfrombodieswhichmayaffectthefieldbetweenthespheres(Figs.6.1 and6.2).



Fig.6.1

Fig.6.2



AccordingtoBSS358:1939,whenonesphereisgrounded,thedistancefromthesparking

pointofthehighvoltagespheretotheequivalentearthplanetowhichtheearthedsphereisconnected

shouldliewithinthelimitsasgiveninTable6.4.

Table6.1

Heightofsparkingpointofhighvoltagesphereabovetheequivalentearthplane.

S=Sparkingpointdistance

SphereDiameter S<0.5D S>0.5D

D Maxm.

Height Min.

Height Maxm.

Height Min.

Height

Upto 25cms.

50cms.

75cms.

100cms.

150cms.

200cms.

7D

6D

6D

5D

4D

4D

10S

8S

8S

7S

6S

6S

7D

6D

6D

5D

4D

4D

5D

4D

4D

5.5D

3D

3D

Inordertoavoidcoronadischarge,theshankssupportingthespheresshouldbefreefromsharp

edgesandcorners.Thedistanceofthesparkingpointfromanyconductingsurfaceexcepttheshanks

shouldbegreaterthan

F25+

VIcms

H 3K

where Vis the peak voltage is kV to be measured. When large spheres are used for the measurement of

lowvoltagesthelimitingdistanceshouldnotbelessthanaspherediameter.

Ithasbeenobservedthatthemetalofwhichthespheresaremadedoesnotaffecttheaccuracyof

measurements MSS 358: 1939 states that the spheres may be made of brass, bronze, steel, copper,

aluminiumorlightalloys.Theonlyrequirementisthatthesurfacesofthesespheresshouldbeclean,

freefromgreasefilms,dustordepositedmoisture.Also,thegapbetweenthespheresshouldbekept

freefromfloatingdustparticles,fibresetc.

Forpowerfrequencytests,aprotectiveresistancewithavalueof1Ω/Vshouldbeconnectedin

betweenthespheresandthetestequipmenttolimitthedischargecurrentandtopreventhighfrequency

oscillations in the circuit which may otherwise result in excessive pitting of the spheres. For higher

frequencies,thevoltagedropwouldincreaseanditisnecessarytohaveasmallervalueoftheresistance.

Forimpulsevoltagetheprotectiveresistorsarenotrequired.Iftheconditionsofthespheresandits



associatedaccessoriesasgivenabovearesatisfied,thesphereswillsparkatapeakvoltagewhichwill

beclosetothenominalvalueshowninTable6.4.Thesecalibrationvaluesrelatetoatemperatureof

20°Candpressureof760mmHg.Fora.c.andimpulsevoltages,thetablesareconsideredtobeaccurate

within±3%forgaplengthsupto0.5D.Thetablesarenotvalidforgaplengthslessthan0.05Dand

impulsevoltageslessthan10kV.Ifthegaplengthisgreaterthan0.5D,theresultsarelessaccurateand

areshowninbrackets.



Table6.2

Spheregapwithonesphereearthed

Peakvalueofdisruptivedischargevoltages(50%forimpulsetests)arevalidfor(i)alternatingvoltages

(ii)d.c.voltageofeitherpolarity(iii)negativelightningandswitchingimpulsevoltages

SphereGap VoltageKVPeak

Spacingmm Spherediaincm.

10

20

30

40

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

1700

1800

1900

2000

14.5

34.7

59.0

85

108

129

167

(195)

(214)

25

86

112

137

195

244

282

(314)

(342)

(366)

(400)

50

138

202

263

320

373

420

460

530

(585)

(630)

(670)

(700)

(730)

75

138

203

265

327

387

443

492

585

665

735

(800)

(850)

(895)

(970)

(1025)

100

138

203

266

330

390

443

510

615

710

800

875

945

1010

(1110)

(1200)

(1260)

(1320)

(1360)

150

138

203

266

330

390

450

510

630

745

850

955

1050

1130

1280

1390

1490

1580

1660

1730

1800

1870

1920

1960

200

203

266

330

390

450

510

630

750

855

975

1080

1180

1340

1480

1600

1720

1840

1940

2020

2100

2180

2250

2320

2370

2410

2460

2490



Duetodustandfibrepresentintheair,themeasurementofd.c.voltagesisgenerallysubjectto

largererrors.Heretheaccuracyiswithin±5%providedthespacingislessthan0.4Dandexcessive

dustisnotpresent.

Theprocedureforhighvoltagemeasurementusingspheregapsdependsuponthetypeofvoltage

tobemeasured.

Table6.3

SphereGapwithonespheregrounded

Peakvaluesofdisruptivedischargevoltages(50%values).

Positivelightningandswitchingimpulsevoltages

PeakVoltagekV

SphereGap Spherediaincms

Spacingmm 14.5 25 50 75 100 150 200 10 34.7 20 59 59 30 85.5 86 40 110 112 50 134 138 138 138 138 138 138

75 (181) 199 203 202 203 203 203

100 (215) 254 263 265 266 266 266

125 (239) 299 323 327 330 330 330

150 (337) 380 387 390 390 390

175 (368) 432 447 450 450 450

200 (395) 480 505 510 510 510

250 (433) 555 605 620 630 630

300 (620) 695 725 745 760

350 (670) 770 815 858 820

400 (715) (835) 900 965 980

450 (745) (890) 980 1060 1090

500 (775) (940) 1040 1150 1190

600 (1020) (1150) (1310) 1380

700 (1070) (1240) (1430) 1550

750 (1090) (1280) (1480) 1620

800 (1310) (1530) 1690

900 (1370) (1630) (1820)

1000 (1410) (1720) 1930

1100 (1790) (2030)

1200 (1860) (2120)

Forthemeasurementofa.c.ord.c.voltage,areducedvoltageisappliedtobeginwithsothatthe

switchingtransientdoesnotflashoverthespheregapandthenthevoltageisincreasedgraduallytillthe

gapbreaksdown.Alternativelythevoltageisappliedacrossarelativelylargegapandthespacingis





Where∆V= per cent reduction in voltage in the breakdown voltage from the value when the

clearancewas14.6D,andmandCarethefactorsdependentontheratioS/D.

Fiegeland Keenhavestudiedtheinfluenceofnearbygroundplaneonimpulsebreakdown

voltageofa50cmdiameterspheregapusing4.5/40microsec.negativepolarityimpulsewave.Fig.6.3

showsthebreakdownvoltageasafunctionofA/D forvariousvaluesofS/D.Thevoltagevalueswere

correctedforrelativeairdensity.

It is observed that the voltage increases with increase in the ratioA/D. The results have been

comparedwiththosegiveninTable6.2andrepresentedinFig.6.3bydashedlines.Theresultsalso

agreewiththerecommendationregardingtheminimumandmaximumvaluesofA/DasgiveninTable 6.4.

InfluenceofHumidity

Kuffelhasstudiedtheeffectofthehumidityonthebreakdownvoltagebyusingspheresof2cmsto

25 cmsdiametersanduniformfieldelectrodes.Theeffectwasfoundtobemaximumintheregion0.4

mmHg.andthereafterthechangewasdecreased.Between4–17mmHg.therelationbetweenbreakdown

voltageandhumiditywaspracticallylinearforspacinglessthanthatwhichgavethemaximumhumidity

effect.Fig.6.4showstheeffectofhumidityonthebreakdownvoltageofa25cmdiameterspherewith

spacingof1cmwhena.c.andd.cvoltagesareapplied.Itcanbeseenthat

(i)Thea.c.breakdownvoltageisslightlylessthand.c.voltage.

(ii)Thebreakdownvoltageincreaseswiththepartialpressureofwatervapour.

Ithasalsobeenobservedthat

(i)Thehumidityeffectincreaseswiththesizeofspheresandislargestforuniformfieldelec- trodes.

(ii)Thevoltagechangeforagivenhumiditychangeincreasewithgaplength.



Theincreaseinbreakdownvoltagewithincreaseinpartialpressureofwatervapourandthis

increaseinvoltagewithincreaseingaplengthisduetotherelativevaluesofionisationandattachment

coefficients in air. The water particles readily attach free electrons, forming negative ions. These ions

thereforeslowdownandareunabletoioniseneutralmoleculesunderfieldconditionsinwhichelectrons will

readilyionise.Ithas beenobservedthatwithinthehumidityrangeof4to17g/m3 (relative

humidityof25to95%for20°Ctemperature)therelativeincreaseofbreakdownvoltageisfoundtobe

between0.2 to 0.35%pergm/m3 forthelargestsphereofdiameter100cmsandgaplengthupto

50cms.

InfluenceofDustParticles

Whenadustparticleisfloatingbetweenthegapthisresultsintoerraticbreakdowninhomogeneousor

slightlyinhomogenouselectrodeconfigurations.Whenthedustparticlecomesincontactwithone electrode

under the application of d.c. voltage, it gets charged to the polarity of the electrode and gets attracted by

the opposite electrode due to the field forces and the breakdown is triggered shortly before arrival. Gaps

subjected to a.c. voltages are also sensitive to dust particles but the probability of erratic

breakdownisless.Underd.c.voltageserraticbreakdownsoccurwithinafewminutesevenforvoltages aslow



as 80% of the nominal breakdown voltages. This is a major problem, with high d.c. voltage

measurementswithspheregaps.

UNIFORMFIELDSPARKGAPS

Brucesuggestedtheuseofuniformfieldsparkgapsforthemeasurementsofa.c.,d.c.andimpulse

voltages.Thesegapsprovideaccuracytowithin0.2%fora.c.voltagemeasurementsanappreciableimproveme

ntascomparedwiththeequivalentspheregaparrangement.Fig.6.5showsahalf-contour

ofoneelectrodehavingplanesparkingsurfaceswithedgesofgraduallyincreasingcurvature.

Fig.6.5Halfcontourofuniformsparkgap

TheportionABisflat,thetotaldiameteroftheflatportionbeinggreaterthanthemaximum

spacingbetweentheelectrodes.TheportionBCconsistsofasinecurvebasedontheaxesOBandOCandgivenby

XY=COsin(BX/BO.π/2).CDisanarcofacirclewithcentreatO.

BruceshowedthatthebreakdownvoltageVofagapoflength Scmsinairat20°Cand760mm

Hg.pressureiswithin0.2percentofthevaluegivenbytheempiricalrelation.

V=26.22S+6.08 S

Thisequation,therefore,replacesTables6.2and6.3whicharenecessaryforspheregaps.This is a great

advantage, that is, if the spacing between the spheres for breakdown is known the breakdown

voltagecanbecalculated.

Theotheradvantagesofuniformfieldsparkgapsare

(i)Noinfluenceofnearbyearthedobjects

(ii)Nopolarityeffect.

However,thedisadvantagesare

(i)Veryaccuratemechanicalfinishoftheelectrodeisrequired.

(ii)Carefulparallelalignmentofthetwoelectrodes.

(iii)Influenceofdustbringsinerraticbreakdownofthegap.Thisismuchmoreseriousinthese gaps

ascomparedwithspheregapsasthehighlystressedelectrodeareasbecomemuch larger.

Therefore,auniformfieldgapisnormallynotusedforvoltagemeasurements.



RODGAPS

Arodgapmaybeusedtomeasurethepeakvalueofpowerfrequencyandimpulsevoltages.Thegap

usuallyconsistsoftwo4.27cmsquarerodelectrodessquareinsectionattheirendandaremountedon

insulatingstandssothatalengthofrodequaltoorgreaterthanonehalfofthegapspacingoverhangs

theinneredgeofthesupport.ThebreakdownvoltagesasfoundinAmericanstandardsfordifferent

gaplengthsat25°C,760mmHg.pressureandwithwatervapourpressureof15.5mmHg.arereproducedhere

Gaplengthin

Cms.

BreakdownVoltageKV

peak

GapLengthincms.

Breakdown

VoltageKVpeak

2

4

6

8

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

50

60

70

26

47

62

72

81

102

124

147

172

198

225

278

332

382

80

90

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

435

488

537

642

744

847

950

1054

1160

The breakdown voltage is a rodgap increasesmoreorlesslinearlywithincreasingrelativeair

densityoverthenormalvariationsinatmosphericpressure.Also,thebreakdownvoltageincreaseswith

increasingrelativehumidity,thestandardhumiditybeingtakenas15.5mmHg.

Because ofthelargevariationinbreakdownvoltageforthesamespacingandtheuncertainties

associatedwiththeinfluenceofhumidity,rodgapsarenolongerusedformeasurementofa.c.or impulse

voltages. However, more recent investigations have shown that these rods can be used for

d.c.measurementprovidedcertainregulationsregardingtheelectrodeconfigurationsareobserved.The

arrangementconsistsoftwohemisphericallycappedrodsofabout20mmdiameterasshowninFig.6.6.



Fig.6.6ElectrodearrangementforarodgaptomeasureHV

The earthedelectrodemustbelongenoughtoinitiatepositivebreakdownstreamersifthehigh

voltagerodisthecathode.Withthisarrangement,thebreakdownvoltagewillalwaysbeinitiatedby

positivestreamersforboththepolaritiesthusgivingaverysmallvariationandbeinghumiditydependent.

Exceptforlowvoltages(lessthan120kV),wheretheaccuracyislow,thebreakdownvoltagecanbe

givenbytheempiricalrelation.

V =δ(A+BS) 4 5.1×10–2(h+8.65)kV

wherehistheabsolutehumidityingm/m3 andvariesbetween4and20gm/m3 intheaboverelation. The

breakdown voltage is linearly related with thegap spacing and theslopeoftherelation

B=5.1kV/cmandisfoundtobeindependentofthepolarityofvoltage.HoweverconstantAispolarity

dependentandhasthevalues

A=20kVforpositivepolarity

=15kVfornegativepolarityofthehighvoltageelectrode.

Theaccuracyoftheaboverelationisbetterthan±20%and,therefore,providesbetteraccuracy

evenascomparedtoaspheregap.

IMPULSEVOLTAGEMEASUREMENTSUSINGVOLTAGEDIVIDERS

Iftheamplitudesoftheimpulsevoltageisnothighandisintherangeofafewkilovolts,itispossible

tomeasure them even when these are of short duration by using CROS. However, if the voltages to be

measured are of high magnitude of the order of magavolts which normally is the case for testing and

researchpurposes,variousproblemsarise.Thevoltagedividersrequiredareofspecialdesignandneed

athoroughunderstandingoftheinteractionpresentinthesevoltagedividingsystems.Fig.6.17shows a

layoutofavoltagetestingcircuitwithinahighvoltagetestingarea.ThevoltagegeneratorGis

connectedtoatestobject—TthroughaleadL.



Fig.6.17Basicvoltagetestingcircuit

Thesethreeelementsformavoltagegeneratingsystem.TheleadLconsistsof aleadwireand

aresistancetodamposcillationortolimitshort-circuitcurrentsifofthetestobjectfails.Themeasuring

systemstartsattheterminalsofthetestobjectandconsistsofaconnectingleadCLtothevoltage dividerD. The

output of the divider is fed to the measuring instrument (CRO etc.)M. The appropriate

groundreturnshouldassurelowvoltagedropsforevenhighlytransientphenomenaandkeeptheground

potentialofzeroasfaraspossible.

Itis to be noted that the test object is a predominantly capacitive element and thus this forms an

oscillatorycircuitwiththeinductanceoftheload.Theseoscillationsarelikelytobeexcitedbyany steep voltage

rise from the generator output, but will only partly be detected by the voltage divider. A

resistorinserieswiththeconnectingleadsdampsouttheseoscillations.Thevoltagedividershould always be

connected outside the generator circuit towards the load circuit (Test object) for accurate

measurement.Incaseitisconnectedwithinthegeneratorcircuit,andthetestobjectdischarges(chopped

wave)thewholegeneratorincludingvoltagedividerwillbedischargedbythisshortcircuitatthetest

objectandthusthevoltagedividerisloadedbythevoltagedropacrosstheleadL.Asaresult,the

voltagemeasurementwillbewrong.

Yetforanotherreason,thevoltagedividershouldbelocatedawayfromthegeneratorcircuit.

Thedividerscannotbeshieldedagainstexternalfields.Allobjectsinthevicinityofthedividerwhich

may acquiretransientpotentialsduringatestwilldisturbthefielddistributionandthusthedivider

performance.Therefore,theconnectingleadCLisanintegralpartofthepotentialdividercircuit.

InordertoavoidelectromagneticinterferencebetweenthemeasuringinstrumentMandCthe

highvoltagetestarea,thelengthofthedelaycableshouldbeadequatelychosen.Veryshortlengthof

thecablecanbeusedonlyifthemeasuringinstrumenthashighlevelofelectromagneticcompatibility (EMC).

For any type of voltage to be measured, the cable should be co-axial type. The outer conductor

providesashieldagainsttheelectrostaticfieldandthuspreventsthepenetrationofthisfieldtothe

innerconductor.Eventhough,thetransientmagneticfieldswillpenetrateintothecable,noappreciable

voltageisinducedduetothesymmetricalarrangement.Ordinarycoaxialcableswithbraidedshields

maywellbeusedford.c.anda.c.voltages.However,forimpulsevoltagemeasurementdoubleshielded

cableswithpredominentlytwoinsulatedbraidedshieldswillbeusedforbetteraccuracy.

Duringdisruptionoftestobject,veryheavytransientcurrentflowandhencethepotentialofthe

groundmayrisetodangerouslyhighvaluesifproperearthingisnotprovided.Forthis,largemetal

sheetsofhighlyconductingmaterialsuchascopperoraluminiumareused.Mostofthemodernhigh



voltagelaboratoriesprovidesuchgroundreturnalongwithaFaradayCageforacompleteshieldingof

thelaboratory.Expandedmetalsheetsgivesimilarperformance.Atleastmetaltapesoflargewidth

shouldbeusedtoreducetheimpedance.

VoltageDivider

Voltagesdividersfora.c.,d.c.orimpulsevoltagesmayconsistofresistorsorcapacitorsoraconvenient

combination of these elements. Inductors are normally not used as voltage dividing elements as pure

inductances of proper magnitudes without stray capacitance cannot be built and also these inductances

wouldotherwiseformoscillatorycircuitwiththeinherentcapacitanceofthetestobjectandthismay

leadtoinaccuracyinmeasurementandhighvoltagesinthemeasuringcircuit.Theheightofavoltage

dividerdependsupontheflashovervoltageandthisfollowsfromtheratedmaximumvoltageapplied.

Now,thepotentialdistributionmaynotbeuniformandhencetheheightalsodependsuponthedesign

ofthehighvoltageelectrode,thetopelectrode.Forvoltagesinthemegavoltrange,theheightofthe

dividerbecomeslarge.Asathumbrulefollowingclearancesbetweentopelectrodeandgroundmaybe

assumed.

4.5to3metres/MVford.c.voltages.

2to4.5m/MVforlightningimpulsevoltages.

Morethan5m/MVrmsfora.c.voltages.

Morethan4m/MVforswitchingimpulsevoltage.

Thepotentialdividerismostsimplyrepresentedbytwo

impedancesZ1

andZ2

connectedinseriesandthesamplevoltage

requiredformeasurementistakenfromacrossZ2,Fig.6.18.

IfthevoltagetobemeasuredisV1andsampledvoltageV

2,

then

V

2=

Z2 V

Z +Z 1

Fig.6.18Basicdiagramofapoten-

tialdividercircuit

1 2

Iftheimpedancesarepureresistances

R2

V2

= R +R

V1

1 2



V

The voltageV2

isnormallyonlyafewhundredvoltsandhencethevalueofZ2

issochosenthat

V2acrossitgivessufficientdeflectiononaCRO.Therefore,mostofthevoltagedropisavailableacrosstheimped

anceZ1

andsincethevoltagetobemeasuredisinmegavoltthelengthofZ1

islarge

whichresultininaccuratemeasurementsbecauseofthestraycapacitancesassociatedwithlonglength

voltagedividers(especiallywithimpulsevoltagemeasurements)unlessspecialprecautionsaretaken.

Onthelowvoltagesideofthepotentialdividerswhereascreenedcableoffinitelengthhastobe

employedforconnectiontotheoscillographothererrorsanddistortionofwaveshapecanalsooccur.

ResistancePotentialDividers

Theresistancepotentialdividersarethefirsttoappearbecauseoftheirsimplicityofconstruction,less

spacerequirements,lessweightandeasyportability.Thesecanbeplacednearthetestobjectwhich

mightnotalwaysbeconfinedtoonelocation.

Thelengthofthedividerdependsupontwoorthreefactors.Themaximumvoltagetobemeasured

isthefirstandifheightisalimitation,thelengthcanbebasedonasurfaceflashovergradientinthe orderof3–

4kV/cmirrespectiveofwhethertheresistanceR1

isofliquidorwirewoundconstruction.

Thelengthalsodependsupontheresistancevaluebutthisisimplicitlyboundupwiththestraycapacitance

oftheresistancecolumn,theproductofthetwo(RC)givingatimeconstantthevalueofwhichmust

notexceedthedurationofthewavefrontitisrequiredtorecord.

Itistobenotedwithcautionthattheresistanceofthepotentialdividershouldbematchedtothe

equivalentresistanceofagivengeneratortoobtainagivenwaveshape.

Fig.6.19(a)showsacommonformofresistancepotentialdividerusedfortestingpurposes

wherethewavefronttimeofthewaveislessthan1microsec.

R1

R3 Z V1

R2 2

R1

Z

R2 R4

R1

R3 Z

R2 R4

(a) (b) (c)

Fig.6.19Variousformsofresistancepotentialdividersrecordingcircuits(a)Matchingatdividerend

(b)MatchingatOscillographend(c)Matchingatbothendsofdelaycable



HereR3,theresistanceatthedividerendofthedelaycableischosensuchthatR

2+R

3=Zwhich

putsanupperlimitonR2

i.e.,R2<Z.Infact,sometimestheconditionformatchingisgivenas

R1R2

Z=R3 + R +R

1 2

But, sinceusuallyR1 >>R

2,theaboverelationreducestoZ =R

3 +R

4.FromFig.6.19(a),the

voltageappearingacrossR2

is

V2

=



Z1 V

Z +R

whereZ1 istheequivalentimpedanceofR

2 inparallelwith(Z +R

3),thesurgeimpedanceofthecable

beingrepresentedbyanimpedanceZtoground.

(Z+R3)R2 (Z+R3)R2

Now Z1 =

R =

+Z+R 2Z

Therefore, V2 =

2 3

(Z+R3)R2 V1

2Z Z +R

1 1

However,thevoltageenteringthedelaycableis

V2 Z (Z+R3)R2 . V1 R2

V3 = Z=

Z+R Z+R 2Z

Z +R =V1 2(Z

+R)

3 3 1 1 1 1

AsthisvoltagewavereachestheCROendofthedelaycable,itsuffersreflectionsasthe impedance

offered by the CRO is infinite and as a result the voltage wave transmitted into the CRO is

doubled.TheCRO,therefore,recordsavoltage

R2

V3′=

Z +R V1

1 1

Thereflectedwave,however,asitreachesthelowvoltagearmofthepotentialdividerdoesnot

sufferanyreflectionasZ =R2+R

3andistotallyabsorbedby(R

2+R

3).

SinceR2issmallerthanZandZ

1 isaparallelcombinationofR

2 and(R

3 +Z),Z

1 isgoingtobe

smallerthanR2andsinceR

1>>R

2,R

1willbemuchgreaterthanZ

1and,thereforetoafirstapproximation

Z1 +R

1 ≈R

4.

R R Therefore, V3′= 2 V1 ≈ 2 V1

asR2 <<R1

R1 R1 +R2

Fig. 6.19(b)and(c)arethevariantsofthepotentialdividercircuitofFig.6.19(a).Thecable

matchingisdonebyapureohmicresistanceR4

=Zattheendofthedelaycableand,therefore,the

voltagereflectioncoefficientiszeroi.e.thevoltageattheendofthecableistransmittedcompletely

intoR4andhenceappearsacrosstheCROplateswithoutbeingreflected.Astheinputimpedanceofthe

delaycableisR4

=Z,thisresistanceisaparalleltoR2

andformsanintegralpartofthedivider’slow

voltagearm.Thevoltageofsuchadivideris,therefore,calculatedasfollows:

Equivalentimpedance

R2Z R1(R2 +Z)+R2Z

=R1+ =

R2 +Z

(R2 +Z)

Therefore,Current I= V1(R2 +Z)



R1(R2 +Z)+R2Z

1

IR2Z

V1(R2 +Z)

R2Z

andvoltage V2 =

R =

+Z R(R

+Z)+RZ R +Z

2 1 2 2



1 2 2

R2Z =

R(R +Z)+RZV1

V2 R2Z

orvoltageratio = V R(R +Z)+RZ

1 1 2 2

DuetothematchingattheCROendofthedelaycable,thevoltagedoesnotsufferanyreflection

atthatendandthevoltagerecordedbytheCROisgivenas

V2 =

R(R

R2ZV1 =

+Z)+RZ (R

R2ZV1 =

+R)Z+RR

R2V1

1 2 2 1 2 12

(R +R)+R1 R2

Normallyforundistortedwaveshapethroughthecable

Z≈R2

1 2 Z

Therefore,

V

2=

2R

R2 V +R

1

1 2

ForagivenappliedvoltageV1thisarrangementwillproduceasmallerdeflectionontheCRO

platesascomparedtotheoneinFig.6.19(a).

ThearrangementofFig.6.19(c)providesformatchingatbothendsofthedelaycableandisto

berecommendedwhereitisfeltnecessarytoreducetotheminimumirregularitiesproducedinthe

delaycablecircuit.SincematchingisprovidedattheCROendofthedelaycable,therefore,thereisno reflection

ofthevoltageatthatendandthevoltagerecordedwillbehalfofthatrecordedinthe

arrangementofFig.6.19(a)viz.

V

2=

2(R R2 V +R)

1

1 2

Itisdesirabletoenclosethelowvoltageresistance(s)ofthepotentialdividersinametalscreening

box.Steelsheetisasuitablematerialforthisboxwhichcouldbeprovidedwithadetachableclose

fittinglidforeasyaccess.IftherearetwolowvoltageresistorsatthedividerpositionasinFig.6.19(a)

and(c),theyshouldbecontainedinthescreeningbox,asclosetogetheraspossible,witharemovable

metallicpartitionbetweenthem.Thepartitionservestwopurposes(i)itactsasanelectrostaticshield

betweenthetworesistors(ii)itfacilitatesthechangingoftheresistors.Thelengthsoftheleadsshould

beshortsothatpracticallynoinductanceiscontributedbytheseleads.Thescreeningboxshouldbe fitted with a

large earthing terminal. Fig. 6.20 shows a sketched cross-section of possible layout for the



lowvoltagearmofvoltagedivider.



CapacitancePotentialDividers

Capacitancepotentialdividersaremorecomplexthantheresistancetype.Formeasurementofimpulse

voltagesnotexceeding1MVcapacitancedividerscanbebothportableandtransportable.Ingeneral,

formeasurementof1MVandover,thecapacitancedividerisalaboratoryfixture.Thecapacitance

dividersareusuallymadeofcapacitorunitsmountedoneabovetheotherandboltedtogether.Itisthis

failurewhichmakesthesmalldividersportable.Ascreeningboxsimilartothatdescribedearliercan

beusedforhousingboththelowvoltagecapacitorunitC2 andthematchingresistorifrequired.

ThelowvoltagecapacitorC2 shouldbenon-inductive.Aformofcapacitorwhichhasgiven

excellentresults is of mica and tin foil plate, construction, each foil having connecting tags coming out

at oppositecorners.Thisensuresthatthecurrentcannotpassfromthehighvoltagecircuittothedelay

cablewithoutactuallygoingthroughthefoilelectrodes.Itisalsoimportantthatthecouplingbetween

thehighandlowvoltagearmsofthedividerbepurelycapacitive.Hence,thelowvoltagearmshould

containonecapacitoronly;twoormorecapacitorsinparallel mustbeavoidedbecauseofappreciable

inductancethatwouldthusbeintroduced.Further, thetappingstothedelaycablemustbetakenoffas

closeaspossibletotheterminalsofC4.Fig.6.21showsvariantsofcapacitancepotentialdividers.

C1

R Z, Cd

C2

C1

R3 Cd

C4

C2

R4

R1

C1 (Z – R2 ) Z

R2

C2

(a) (b) (c)



Fig.6.21Capacitordividers(a)Simplematching(b)Compensatedmatching

(c)Dampedcapacitordividersimplematching

ForvoltagedividersinFig.(b)and(c),thedelaycablecannotbematchedatitsend.Alow

resistorinparalleltoC2

wouldloadthelowvoltagearmofthedividertooheavilyanddecreasethe

outputvoltagewithtime.SinceRandZformapotentialdividerandR=Z,thevoltageinputtothe

cablewillbehalfofthevoltageacrossthecapacitorC4.

Thishalvedvoltagestravelstowardstheopen end of the

cable (CRO end) and gets doubled after reflection. That is, the voltage recorded by the CRO

isequaltothevoltageacrossthecapacitorC4.

Thereflectedwavechargesthecabletoitsfinalvoltage

magnitudeandisabsorbedbyR(i.e.reflectiontakesplaceatRandsinceR=Z,thewaveiscompletely

absorbedascoefficientofvoltagereflectioniszero)asthecapacitorC2

actsasashortcircuitforhigh

frequencywaves.Thetransformationratio,therefore,changesfromthevalue:

C1 +C2

C1

forveryhighfrequenciestothevalue

C1 +C2 +Cd

C1

forlowfrequencies.

However,thecapacitanceofthedelaycableCd isusuallysmallascomparedwithC

4.

Forcapacitivedivideranadditionaldampingresistanceisusuallyconnectedintheleadonthe

highvoltagesideasshowninFig.6.21(c).Theperformanceofthedividercanbeimprovedifdamping

resistorwhichcorrespondstotheaperiodiclimitingcaseisinsertedinserieswiththeindividualelement

ofcapacitordivider.Thiskindofdampedcapacitivedivideractsforhighfrequenciesasaresistive

dividerandforlowfrequenciesasacapacitivedivider.Itcan,therefore,beusedoverawiderangeof

frequenciesi.e.forimpulsevoltagesofverydifferentdurationandalsoforalternatingvoltages.

Fig.6.22 Simplifieddiagramofaresistancepotentialdivider



Fig. 6.22 shows a simplified diagram of a resistance potential divider after taking into

considerationstheleadinconnectionastheinductanceandthestraycapacitanceaslumpedcapacitance. HereL

representstheloopinductanceofthelead-inconnectionforthehighvoltagearm.Thedamping

resistanceRdlimitsthetransientovershootinthecircuitformedbytestobject,L,R

d andC.Itsvaluehas

adecidedeffectontheperformanceofthedivider.Inordertoevaluatethevoltagetransformationofthe

divider,thelowvoltagearmvoltageV2resultingfromasquarewaveimpulseV

1onthehvsidemustbe

investigaged.ThevoltageV2

followscurve2inFig.6.23(a)incaseofaperiodicdampingandcurve2 in

Fig.6.23(b)incaseofsub-criticaldamping.Thetotalareabetweencurves1and2takinginto

considerationthepolarity,isdescribedastheresponsetime.

Withsubcriticaldamping,eventhoughtheresponsetimeissmaller,thedampingshouldnotbe very

small.Thisisbecauseanundesirableresonancemayoccurforacertainfrequencywithinthe

passingfrequencybandofthedivider.Acompromisemustthereforeberealisedbetweentheshortrise

timeandtherapidstabilizationofthemeasuringsystem.AccordingtoIECpublicationNo.60amaximum

overshootof3%isallowedforthefullimpulsewave,5%foranimpulsewavechoppedonthefrontat

timesshorterthan1microsec.Inordertofulfilltheserequirements,theresponsetimeofthedivider

mustnotexceed0.2microsec.forfullimpulsewaves4.2/50or4.2/5orimpulsewaveschoppedonthe

tail.Iftheimpulsewaveischoppedonthefrontattimeshorterthan1microsectheresponsetimemust

benotgreaterthan5%ofthetimetochopping.



KlydonographorSurgeRecorder

Since lightningsurgesareinfrequentandrandominnature,itisnecessarytoinstalalargenumberof

recordingdevicestoobtainareasonableamountofdataregardingthesesurgesproducedontransmission lines

andotherequipments.Somefairlysimpledeviceshavebeendevelopedforthispurpose. Klydonograph is

one such device which makes use of the patterns known as Litchenberg figures which

areproducedonaphotographicfilmbysurfacecoronadischarges.

TheKlydonograph(Fig.6.24)consistsofaroundedelectroderestingupontheemulsionsideof

aphotographicfilmorplatewhichiskeptonthesmoothsurfaceofaninsulatingmaterialplatebacked

byaplateelectrode.Theminimumcriticalvoltagetoproduceafigureisabout2 kV and the maximum

voltagethatcanberecordedisabout20kV,asathighervoltagessparkoversoccurswhichspoilsthe

film.Thedevicecanbeusedwithapotentialdividertomeasurehighervoltagesandwitharesistance

shunttomeasureimpulsecurrent.

Locking ring

Keramot

cap

Plate electrode

Top plate connected to potential divider tapping

Electrodesupport

Removable plug

Adjustable holder

Compression spring

Stainlesssteel hemispherical electrode

Photographic film (emulsion side)

Keramot backing plate

Locking ring

Electrodesupport

Baseplate connected to earth

Positioning device Fig. 6.24 Kiydonograph



There are characteristic differences between the figures for positive and negative voltages.

However,foreitherpolaritytheradiusofthefigure(ifitissymmetrical)orthemaximumdistancefrom

thecentreofthefiguretoitsoutsideedge(ifitisunsymmetrical)isafunctiononlyoftheapplied

voltage.Theoscillatoryvoltagesproducesuperimposedeffectsforeachpartofthewave.Thusitis possibleto

knowwhetherthewaveisunidirectionaloroscillatory.Sincethesizeofthefigurefor

positivepolarityislarger,itispreferabletousepositivepolarityfigures.Thisisparticularlydesirable

incaseofmeasurementofsurgesontransmissionlinesorothersuchequipmentwhichareordinarily

operatingona.c.voltageandthealternatingvoltagegivesablackbandalongthecentreofthefilm

causedbysuperpositionofpositiveandnegativefiguresproducedoneachhalfcycle.Foreachsurge

voltageitispossibletoobtainbothpositiveandnegativepolarityfiguresbyconnectingpairsofelectrodes

inparallel,onepairwithahighvoltagepointandanearthedplateandtheotherpairwithahighvoltage

plateandanearthedpoint.

Klydonographbeingasimpleandinexpensivedevice,alargenumberofelementscanbeused

formeasurement.Ithasbeenusedinthepastquiteextensivelyforprovidingstatisticaldataonmagnitude,

polarityandfrequencyofvoltagesurgesontransmissionlineseventhoughitsaccuracyofmeasurement

isonlyoftheorderof25percent.

Example 1.Determinethebreakdownvoltageforairgapsof2mmand15mmlengthsunderuni-

formfieldandstandardatmosphericconditions.Also,determinethevoltageiftheatmosphericpres-

sureis750mmHgandtemperature35°C.

Solution:Accordingtoempiricalformulawhichholdsgoodatstandardatmosphericconditions

Vb

=26.22S+6.08 S

whereSisthegaplengthincms.

(i)When S=0.2cm

V=26.22×0.2+6.08 0.2 =7.56kV Ans.

(ii)When S=4.5cms

Vb

=26.22×4.5+6.08 4.5 =36.33+7.446=45.776kV Ans.

Theairdensitycorrectionfactor

= 5.92b 273+t



I

=

=5.92×75

=0.9545 Ans. 273+35

Therefore,voltagefor2mmgapwillbe7.216kVandfor15mmgapitwillbe44.78kV.

Example 3.Anelectrostaticvoltmeterhastwoparallelplates.Themovableplateis10cmindiam-

eter.With10kVbetweentheplatesthepullis5×10–3N.Determinethechangeincapacitancefora movementof

1mmofmovableplate.

Solution: 5×10–3=1.

2

1

36π ×10−9×

18 25π×10−4

d2

or d=26.35mm.

Therefore,changeincapacitance

103

×10−9×25

×10

−4F 1 −

1

36 π H26.35

27.35K =0.0959pF Ans.

Example5.Apeakreadingvoltmeterisrequiredtomeasurevoltageupto150kV.Thepeakvoltmeter usesanRCcircuit,amicroammeterandacapacitancepotentialdivider.Thepotentialdividerhasa

ratioof1200:1andthemicrometercanreadupto10µA.DeterminethevalueofRandCifthetime constantofRCcircuitis8secs.

Solution:Thevoltageacrossthelowvoltagearmofthepotentialdivider,

150×1000

1200 =125volts.

Thesamevoltageappearsacrosstheresistance.

Therefore R=V

= I

125

10×10−6

=14.5MΩ

SincethetimeconstantoftheRCcircuitis8sec.

C=-------8

14.5×106

=0.64µF Ans.

1.Whataretherequirementsofaspheregapformeasurementofhighvoltages?Discussthedisadvantages

ofspheregapformeasurements.

2.Explainclearlytheprocedureformeasurementof(i)impulse;(ii)a.c.highvoltagesusingspheregap.

3.Discusstheeffectof(i)nearbyearthedobjects(ii)humidityand(iii)dustparticlesonthemeasurements



usingspheregaps.

4.Describetheconstructionofauniformfieldsparkgapanddiscussitsadvantagesanddisadvantagesfor

highvoltagemeasurements.

5. Explainwithneatdiagramhowrodgapscanbeusedformeasurementofhighvoltages. Compareits

performancewithaspheregap.

6.

ExplainwithneatdiagramtheprincipleofoperationofanElectrostaticVoltmeter.Discussitsadvan

tages andlimitationsforhighvoltagemeasurements.

7.

Drawaneatschematicdiagramofageneratingvoltmeterandexplainitsprincipleofoperation.Disc

uss itsapplicationandlimitations.

8. DrawChubb-

FortescueCircuitformeasurementofpeakvalueofa.c.voltagesdiscussitsadvantagesover

othermethods.

9.

Discusstheproblemsassociatedwithpeakvoltmetercircuitsusingpassiveelements.Drawcircuit

devel- opedbyRabusandexplainhowthiscircuitovercomestheseproblems.

10.

Whataretheproblemsassociatedwithmeasurementofveryhighimpulsevoltages?Explainhowth

ese canbetakencareofduringmeasurements.

11.Discuss and compare the performance of (i) resistance (ii) capacitance potential dividers for

measurement ofimpulsevoltages.

12.Discussvariousresistancepotentialdividersandcomparetheirperformanceofmeasurementofimpul

se voltages.

13.Discussvariouscapacitance,potentialdividersandcomparetheirperformanceformeasurementofim

- pulsevoltages.

14.Drawasimplifiedequivalentcircuitofaresistancepotentialdivideranddiscussitsstepresponse.

15. Discussvariousmethodsofmeasuringhighd.c.anda.c.currents.

16. Discussvariousmethodsofmeasuringhighimpulsecurrents.

17.

WhatisRogowskiCoil?Explainwithaneatdiagramitsprincipleofoperationformeasurementofhi



gh impulsecurrents.



jωt

UNIT -7

NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSULATION TESTING TECHNIQUES: Dielectric loss and

loss angle measurements using Schering Bridge, Transformer ratio Arms Bridge. Need for

discharge detection and PD measurements aspects. Factor affecting the discharge detection.

Discharge detection methods-straight and balanced methods.

6 Hours

Allelectrical appliances are insulated with gaseous or liquid or solid or a suitable combination of

these materials. The insulation is provided between live parts or between live part and grounded part of

the appliance.Thematerialsmaybesubjectedtovaryingdegreesofvoltages,temperaturesandfrequen-

ciesanditisexpectedofthesematerialstoworksatisfactorilyovertheserangeswhichmayoccur

occasionallyinthesystem.Thedielectriclossesmustbelowandtheinsulationresistancehighinorder

topreventthermalbreakdownofthesematerials.Thevoidformationwithintheinsulatingmaterials

mustbeavoidedasthesedeterioratethedielectricmaterials.

Oneofthepossibletestingprocedureistoover-stressinsulationwithhigha.c.and/ord.c.or surge

voltages. However, the disadvantage of the technique is that during the process of testing the

equipmentmaybedamagediftheinsulationisfaulty.Forthisreason,followingnon-destructivetesting

methodsthatpermitearlydetectionforinsulationfaultsareused:

(i)Measurementoftheinsulationresistanceunderd.c.voltages.

(ii)DeterminationoflossfactortanδandthecapacitanceC.

(iii)Measurementofpartialdischarges.

MEASUREMENTOFDIELECTRICCONSTANTANDLOSSFACTOR Dielectriclossandequivalentcircuit

Incaseoftimevaryingelectricfields,thecurrentdensityJcusingAmpereslawisgivenby

Jc=σE+

Forharmonicallyvaryingfields

∂D ∂E

∂t =σE+ε

∂t

E=Em

ejωt

∂E

∂t =jE

mωe = jωE Ir I

Therefore, Jc=σE+jωεE



2

ε

=(σ+jωε)E d

Ingeneral, in addition to conduction losses, ionization f andpolarizationlossesalsooccurand,therefore,thedielec- Iw

tricconstantε=ε0 ε

r is nolongerarealquantityratheritisa Fig.7.3Phasordiagramforareal

dielectricmaterial

complexquantity.Bydefinition,thedissipationfactortanδistheratioofrealcomponentofcurrentIω

tothereactivecomponentIr (Fig.7.3).

I tanδ=ω=

Ir

pdid

Pr

Hereδistheanglebetweenthereactivecomponentofcurrentandthetotalcurrentflowing

throughthedielectricatfundamentalfrequency.Whenδisverysmalltanδ =δ whenδisexpressedin

radiansandtanδ=sinδ=sin(90–φ)=cosφi.e.,tanδthenequalsthepowerfactorofthedielectric material.

Asmentionedearlier,thedielectriclossconsistsofthreecomponentscorrespondingtothethree

lossmechanism.

Pdiel

=Pc + P

p +P

i

andforeachoftheseanindividualdissipationfactorcanbegivensuchthat

tanδ=tanδc + tanδ

p + tanδ

i

Ifonlyconductionlossesoccurthen

Pdiel

=Pc =σE2 Ad=V2ωCtanδ=

2

Vωε0 εrA

d

tanδ

or σE2 =V

ωεεtanδ=E2 ωεε tanδ

or tanδ=

d2 0 r 0 r

σωε0 εr

Thisshowsthatthedissipationfactorduetoconductionlossaloneisinverselyproportionalto

thefrequencyandcan,therefore,beneglectedathigherfrequencies.However,forsupplyfrequency

eachlosscomponentwillhaveconsiderablemagnitude.

Inordertoincludealllosses,itiscustomarytorefertheexistenceofalosscurrentinadditionto

thechargingcurrentbyintroducingcomplexpermittivity.

ε* =ε′–jε″

andthetotalcurrentIisexpressedas

I=(jωε′+ωε″) C0 V ε0

whereC0isthecapacitancewithoutdielectricmaterial. or

I=jωC0ε

r*.V

(ε′ −jε″) where ε*r =

0



d

=ε′r–jε

r″

εr*iscalledthecomplexrelativepermittivityorcomplexdielectricconstant,ε′andε

r′arecalled

thepermittivityandrelativepermittivityandε″andεr″arecalledthelossfactorandrelativelossfactor

respectively.Thelosstangent

ε″ εr″

tanδ = = ε′ εr′

Theproductoftheangularfrequencyandε″isequivalenttothedielectricconductivityσ″i.e.,σ″=ωε″.

Thedielectricconductivitytakesintoaccountallthethreepowerdissipativeprocessesinclud- ing

theonewhichisfrequencydependent.Fig.7.4showstwoequivalentcircuitsrepresentingtheelectricalbehavio

urofinsulatingmaterialsundera.c.voltages,losseshavebeensimulatedbyresistances.

VwC

I

RP CP

RS I d

C w

IRS

I

S

CS

V/R V

(a)

(b)

Fig.7.4Equivalentcircuitsforaninsulatingmaterial

NormallytheanglebetweenVandthetotalcurrentinapurecapacitoris90°.Duetolosses,this

angleislessthan90°.Therefore,δistheanglebywhichthevoltageandchargingcurrentfallshortof the90°displacement.

Fortheparallelcircuitthedissipationfactorisgivenby

1

andfortheseriescircuit

tanδ = ωCpRp

tanδ=ωCsR

s

For afixedfrequency,boththeequivalentsholdgoodandonecanbeobtainedfromtheother.

However,thefrequencydependenceisjusttheoppositeinthetwocasesandthisshowsthelimited

validityoftheseequivalentcircuits.

Theinformationobtainedfromthemeasurementoftanδandcomplexpermittivityisanindica-

tionofthequalityoftheinsulatingmaterial.

(i)If tanδvariesandchangesabruptlywiththeapplicationofhighvoltage,itshowsinception

ofinternalpartialdischarge.

(ii)Theeffecttofrequencyonthedielectricpropertiescanbestudiedandthebandoffrequen- cies where

dispersion occursi.e.,wherethatpermittivityreduceswithriseinfrequencycan beobtained.

HIGHVOLTAGESCHERINGBRIDGE



Thebridge is widely used for capacity and dielectric loss measurement of all kinds of

capacitances, for instance cables, insulators and liquid insulating materials. We know that most of the

high voltage equipments have low capacitance and low loss factor. Typical values of these equipments

are given in

Chapter5.Thisbridgeisthenmoresuitableformeasurementofsuchsmallcapacitanceequipmentsas

thebridgeuseseitherhighvoltageorhighfrequencysupply.Ifmeasurementsforsuchlowcapacity

equipmentsiscarriedoutatlowvoltage,theresultssoobtainedarenotaccurate

Fig.7.5showsahighvoltagescheringbridgewherethespecimenhasbeenrepresentedbya

parallelcombinationofRp andC

p.

Fig.7.5Basichighvoltagescheringbridge

Thespecialfeaturesofthebridgeare:

4.Highvoltagesupply,consistsofahighvoltagetransformerwithregulation,protectivecir- cuitry

and special screening. The input voltage is 220 volt and output continuously variable

between0and10kV.Themaximumcurrentis100mAanditisof1kVAcapacity.

4.ScreenedstandardcapacitorCs of100pF±5%,10kVmaxanddissipationfactortanδ

=10–5.Itisagas-filledcapacitorhavingnegligiblelossfactoroverawiderangeoffrequency.

5.TheimpedancesofarmsIandIIareverylargeand,therefore,currentdrawnbythesearms

issmallfromthesourceandasensitivedetectorisrequiredforobtainingbalance.Also,

sincetheimpedanceofarmIandIIareverylargeascomparedtoIIIandIV,thedetectorand

theimpedancesinarmIIIandIVareatapotentialofonlyafewvolts(10to20volts)above

earthevenwhenthesupplyvoltageis10kV,exceptofcourse,incaseofbreakdownofone

ofthecapacitorsofarmIorIIinwhichcasethepotentialwillbethatofsupplyvoltage.

Sparkgapsare,therefore,providedtosparkoverwheneverthevoltageacrossarmIIIorIV

exceeds100voltsoastoprovidepersonnelsafetyandsafetyforthenulldetector.

4.NullDetector: Anoscilloscopeisusedasanulldetector.The γ–platesaresuppliedwiththe bridgevoltageV

abandthex-plateswiththesupplyvoltageV.IfV

abhasphasedifference

withrespecttoV,anellipsewillappearonthescreen(Fig.7.6).However,ifmagnitude

balance is not reached, an inclined straight line will be observed on the screen. The

information about the phase is obtained from the area of the eclipse and the one about the

magnitude from the inclination angle. Fig. 7.6ashows that both magnitude and phase are

balancedandthisrepresentsthenullpointcondition.Fig.(7.6c)and(d)showsthatonly

phaseandamplituderespectivelyarebalanced.



(a) (b) (c) (d)

Fig.7.6Indicationsonnulldetector

The handling of bridge keys allows to meet directly both the phase and the magnitude

conditionsinasingleattempt.Atimeconsumingiterativeprocedurebeingusedearlieris

thusavoidedandalsowiththisaveryhighorderofaccuracyinthemeasurementisachieved.

Thehighaccuracyisobtainedasthesenulloscilloscopesareequippedwithaγ–amplifier of

automatically controlled gain. If the impedances are far away from the balance point, the

wholescreenisused.Fornearlyobtainedbalance,itisstillalmostfullyused.AsVab

becomes

smaller,byapproachingthebalancepoint,thegainincreasesautomaticallyonlyfordeviations

veryclosetobalance,theellipseareashrinkstoahorizontalline.

5.AutomaticGuardPotentialRegulator:Whilemeasuringcapacitanceandlossfactorsusing

a.c.bridges,thedetrimentalstraycapacitancesbetweenbridgejunctionsandtheground

adverselyaffectthemeasurementsandarethesourceoferror.Therefore,arrangements should be

made to shield the measuring system so that these stray capacitances are either

neutralised,balancedoreliminatedbypreciseandrigorouscalculations.Fig.7.7shows

variousstraycapacitanceassociatedwithHighVoltageScheringBridge.

Fig.7.7Scheringbridgewithstraycapacitances

C

a,C

b,C

candC

darethestraycapacitancesatthejunctionsA,B,CandDofthebridge.Ifpoint

DisearthedduringmeasurementcapacitanceCd

isthuseliminated.SinceCc

comesacrossthepower

supplyforearthedbridge,hasnoinfluenceonthemeasurement.Theeffectof otherstraycapacitances

Ca

andCb

canbeeliminatedbyuseofauxiliaryarms,eitherguardpotentialregulatororauxiliary

branchassuggestedbyWagner.

Fig.7.8showsthebasicprincipleofWagnerearthtoeliminatetheeffectofstraycapacitances

CaandC

b.InthisarrangementanadditionalarmZ isconnectedbetweenthelowvoltageterminalofthe four arm



bridge and earth. The stray capacitanceCbetween the high voltage terminal of the bridge and

thegroundedshieldandtheimpedanceZtogetherconstituteasixarmbridgeandadoublebalancing

procedureisrequired.

SwitchSisfirstconnectedtothebridgepointbandbalanceisobtained.Atthispointaandbare

atthesamepotentialbutnotnecessarilyatthegroundpotential.SwitchSisnowconnectedtopointC

andbyadjustingimpedanceZbalanceisagainobtained.Underthisconditionpoint‘a’mustbeatthe

samepotentialasearthalthoughitisnotpermanentlyatearthpotential.SwitchSisagainconnectedto

pointbandbalanceisobtainedbyadjustingbridgeparameters.Theprocedureisrepeatedtillallthe

threepointsa,b andcareattheearthpotentialandthusCa andC

b areeliminated.

Cs C

b c

a D S

Z

Fig.7.8BridgeincorporatingWagnerearth

This method is, however, now rarely

used.Insteadanauxiliaryarmusingautomatic

guard potential regulator is used. The basic

circuitisshowninFig.7.9.

Theguardpotentialregulatorkeepsthe

shieldpotentialatthesamevalueasthatof

thedetectordiagonalterminalsaandbforthe

bridge balance considered. Since potentials of

a,bandshieldareheldatthesamevaluethe

straycapacitancesareeliminated.Duringthe

processofbalancingthebridgethepoints a

andbattaindifferentvaluesofpotentialin

Fig.7.9AutomaticWagnerearthorautomatic

guardpotentialregulator

magnitudeandphasewithrespecttoground.Asaresult,theguardpotentialregulatorshouldbeableto adjust the

voltage both in magnitude and phase. This is achieved with a voltage divider arrangement

providedwithcoarseandfinecontrols,oneofthemfedwithin-phaseandtheotherquadraturecompo-

nentofvoltage.Thecontrolvoltageisthentheresultantofbothcomponentswhichcanbeadjusted

eitherinpositiveorinnegativepolarityasdesired.Thecomparisonbetweentheshieldingpotential

adjustedbymeansoftheGuardpotentialregulatorandthebridgevoltageismadeinthenullindicator

oscilloscopeasmentionedearlier.Modifyingthepotential,itiseasytobringthereadingofthenull

detectortoahorizontalstraightlinewhichshowsabalancebetweenthetwovoltagesbothinmagni-

tudeandphase.



22

1 d p pi

The automaticguardpotentialregulatoradjustsautomaticallytheguardpotentialofthebridge

makingthisequalinmagnitudeandphasetothepotentialofthepointaorbwithrespecttoground.

Theregulatordoesnotuseanyexternalsourceofvoltagetoachievethisobjective.Itisrathercon-

nectedtothebridgecornerpointbetweenaorbandcandistakenasareferencevoltageandthisis

thentransmittedtotheguardcircuitwithunitygainbothinmagnitudeandphase.Theshieldsofthe leadsto

CsandC

p arenotgroundedbutconnectedtotheoutputofthe regulatorwhich,infact,isan

operationalamplifier.Theinputimpedanceoftheamplifierismorethan1000Megaohmsandthe

outputimpedanceislessthan0.5ohm.Thehighinputimpedanceandverylowoutputimpedanceof

theamplifierdoesnotloadthedetectorandkeepstheshieldpotentialatanyinstantatanartificial ground.

BalancingtheBridge

ForreadyreferenceFig.7.5isreproducedhereanditsphasordiagramunderbalancedcondition

isdrawninFig.7.10(b)

V1wCs

V2wC2

d

90°

I1

V2/R2

V1/Rp V1

I1R1 =V2

Fig.7.10(a)Scheringbridge(b)Phasordiagram

ThebridgeisbalancedbysuccessivevariationofR1 andC

2 untilontheoscilloscope(Detector)

ahorizontalstraightlineisobserved:

Atbalance ZI

ZII

=ZIII

ZIV

Rp

Now ZI = 1+jωCpRp

Z

II=

1

jωCs

R2

ZIII

=RI andZ

IV=

1+jωCR

Frombalanceequationwehave

Rp

R1 (1+iωCpRp)

Rp (1−jω CpRp) or

R 1+ω2C2R2

1/jωCs (1+jωC2R2) =

R2

=1+jωC2R2

jωCsR2





TRANSFORMERRATIOARMBRIDGE

For measurementofvariousparameterslikeresistance,in-

ductance,capacitance,usuallyfourarmbridgesareused. For

high frequency measurements, the arm with high

resistances leads to difficulties due to their residual induct-

ance,capacitanceandskineffect.Alsoiflengthoftheleads

islarge, shielding is difficult. Hence at high frequencies the

transformerratioarmbridgewhicheliminatesatleasttwo arms,

are preferred. These bridges provide more accurate

resultsforsmallcapacitancemeasurements.Therearetwo

typesoftransformerratioarmbridges(i)Voltageratio;(ii)

C¢s

Nb Ra

Na

D

Ns

Rs Cs

Current ratio. The voltage ratio type is used for high fre-

quency low voltage application. Fig. 7.16 shows schematic

diagramofavoltageratioarmbridge.Assumingidealtrans-

former,underbalancecondition:

Fig.7.16Transformervoltageratio

armbridge

However,inpracticalsituationduetothepresenceofmagnetisingcurrentandtheloadcurrents,

thevoltageratioslightlydiffersfromtheturnsratioandtherefore,themethodinvolvescertainerrors.

Theerrorsareclassifiedasratioerrorandloaderrorwhichcanbecalculatedbeforehandfora transformer. A typical

bridge has a useful range from a fraction of apFtoabout100 µFand is accurate over awide

rangeoffrequencyfrom100Hzto100kHz,theaccuracybeingbetterthan±0.5%.

The currentratioarmbridgeisusedforhighvoltagelowfrequencyapplications.Themain advantage of

the method is that the test specimen is subjected to full system voltage. Fig. 7.17 shows

schematicdiagramofthebridge.Themaincomponentofthebridgeisathreewindingcurrenttrans-

formerwithverylowlossesandleakage(coreofhighpermeability).Thetransformeriscarefully

shieldedagainststraymagneticfieldsandprotectedagainstmechanicalvibrations.

NEED FOR PARTIALDISCHARGES

Partialdischargeisdefinedaslocaliseddischargeprocessinwhichthedistancebetweentwoelec- trodes

is only partially bridgedi.e.,the insulation between the electrodes is partially punctured. Partial

dischargesmayoriginatedirectlyatoneoftheelectrodesoroccurinacavityinthedielectric.Someof



thetypicalpartialdischargesare:(i)Coronaorgasdischarge.Theseoccurduetonon-uniformfieldon

sharpedgesoftheconductorsubjectedtohighvoltageespeciallywhentheinsulationprovidedisairor

gasorliquidFig.7.18(a).(ii)Surfacedischargesanddischargesinlaminatedmaterialsontheinter-

facesofdifferentdielectricmaterialsuchasgas/solidinterfaceasgasgetsoverstressedεr

timesthestressonthesolidmaterial(whereεr

istherelativepermittivityofsolidmaterial)andionizationofgas

resultsFig.7.18(b)and(c). (iii)Cavitydischarges:Whencavitiesareformedinsolidorliquidinsulat- ing

materialsthegasinthecavityisoverstressedanddischargesareformedFig.7.18(d)(iv).TreeingChannels:Hi

ghintensityfieldsareproducedinaninsulatingmaterialatitssharpedgesand

thisdeterioratestheinsulatingmaterial.Thecontinuouspartialdischargessoproducedareknownas

TreeingChannelsFig.7.18(e).

ExternalPartialDischarge

Externalpartial discharge is the process which occurs external to the equipment e.g. on overhead lines,

onarmatureetc.

InternalPartialDischarge

Internal paratial discharge is a process of electrical discharge which occurs inside a closed

system (discharge in voids, treeing etc). This kind of classification is essential for the PD measuring

system as externaldischargescanbenicelydistinguishedfrominternaldischarges.Partialdischargemeasure-

ment have been used to assess the life expectancy of insulating materials. Even though there is no well

defined relationship, yet it gives sufficient idea of the insulating properties of the material. Partial

discharges on insulation can be measured not only by electrical methods but by optical, acoustic and

chemicalmethodalso.Themeasuringprinciplesarebasedonenergyconversionprocessassociated

withelectricaldischargessuchasemissionofelectromagneticwaves,light,noiseorformationofchemical

compounds.Theoldestandsimplestbutlesssensitiveisthemethodoflisteningtohissingsoundcomingoutofp

artialdischarge.Ahighvalueoflossfactortanδisanindicationofoccurrenceofpartialdischargeinthematerial.

Thisisalsonotareliablemeasurementastheadditionallossesgeneratedduetoapplicationofhighvoltageareloc

alisedandcanbeverysmallincomparisontothevolume losses resulting from polarization process. Optical

methods are used only for those materials which are

transparentandthusnotapplicableforallmaterials.Acousticdetectionmethodsusingultrasonictransducersha

ve,however,beenusedwithsomesuccess.Themostmodernandthemostaccuratemethods

aretheelectricalmethods.ThemainobjectivehereistoseparateimpulsecurrentsassociatedwithPD

fromanyotherphenomenon.



ThePartialDischargeEquivalentCircuit

If thereareanypartialdischargesinadielectricmaterial,thesecanbemeasuredonlyacrossits

terminal.Fig.7.19showsasimplecapacitorarrangementinwhichagasfilledvoidispresent.The

partialdischargeinthevoidwilltakeplaceastheelectricstressinthevoidisεrtimesthestressinthe

restofthematerialwhereεristherelativepermittivityofthematerial.Duetogeometryofthematerial,

variouscapacitancesareformedasshowninFig.7.19(a).Fluxlinesstartingfromelectrodeandtermi-

natingatthevoidwillformonecapacitanceCb1

andsimilarlyCb2

betweenelectrodeBandthecavity.

Ccisthecapacitanceofthevoid.SimilarlyC

a1andC

a2arethecapacitanceofhealthyportionsofthe

dielectriconthetwosidesofthevoid.Fig.7.19(b)showstheequivalentof7.19(a)whereCa =C

a1

+Ca2

,andCb=C

b1C

b2/(C

b1+C

b2) andC

c isthecavitycapacitance.IngeneralC

a >>C

b>>C

c.



ClosingofswitchSisequivalenttosimulatingpartialdischargeinthevoidasthevoltageVc

acrossthevoidreachesbreakdownvoltage.Thedischargeresultsintoacurrentic(t)toflow.ResistorR

c

simulatesthefinitevalueofcurrentic(t).

SupposevoltageVisappliedacrosstheelectrodeAandBandthesampleischargedtothis

voltageandsourceisremoved.ThevoltageVcacross thevoidissufficienttobreakdownthevoid.Itis

equivalenttoclosingswitch SinFig.7.19(b).Asaresult,thecurrent ic(t)flowswhichreleasesa

charge∆qc=∆V

cC

cwhichisdispersedinthedielectricmaterialacrossthecapacitanceC

b andC

a.Here

∆Vcisthedropinthevoltage V

casaresultofdischarge.Theequivalentcircuitduringredistributionof

charge∆qcisshowninFig.7.20

DVc

Cb

A

Ca DV

B

Fig.7.20Equivalentof7.19(a)afterdischarge

ThevoltageasmeasuredacrossABwillbe

∆V=

Cb

Ca +Cb

∆Vc=

Cb

Ca +Cb

∆qc

Cc

Ordinarily∆VcisinkVwhereas∆Visafewvoltssincetheratio C

b/C

a isoftheorderof10–4to

10–5.Thevoltagedrop∆VeventhoughcanbemeasuredbutasCb andC

c arenormallynotknown

neither∆Vcnor∆q

ccanbeobtained.AlsosinceVisinkVand∆Visinvoltstheratio∆V/Visverysmall

≈10–3,thereforethedetectionof∆V/Visatedioustask.



Suppose,thatthetestobjectremainsconnectedtothevoltagesourceFig.7.24.HereCkisthe

couplingcapacitor.Zistheimpedance consistingeitheronlyoftheleadimpedanceoforleadimpe-

danceandPD-freeinductororfilterwhichdecouplesthecouplingcapacitorandthetestobjectfrom

thesourceduringdischargeperiodonly,whenveryhighfrequencycurrentpulseic(t)circulatebetween

CkandC

t.C

t isthetotalequipmentcapacitanceofthetestspecimen.

Fig.7.21

ItistobenotedthatZoffershighimpedancetocircularcurrent(impulsecurrents)and,there-

fore,thesearelimitedonlytoCk and C

t.However,supplyfrequencydisplacementcurrentscontinueto

flowthroughCkandCtandwaveshapesofcurrentsthroughCkandCtareshowninFig.7.24.

Fig.7.22CurrentwaveformsinCk andC

t.

It isinterestingtofindthatpulsecurrentsinCkandC

thave exactlysamelocationbutopposite polarities

and these are of the same magnitude. Therefore, one can say that these pulse currents are not

suppliedbythesourcebutareduetolocalpartialdischarges.Theamplitudeofpulsesdependsuponthe



z

voltageappliedandthenumberofpulsesdependsuponthenumberofvoids.Thelargerthenumberof

faultsthehigherthenumberofpulsesoverahalfcycle.

Duringdischarge,thevoltageacrossthetestobjectCt

fallsbyanamount∆Vandduringthis

periodCkstorestheenergyandreleasethechargebetweenC

k andC

t thuscompensatingthedrop∆V.

TheequivalentcapacitanceofthetestspecimenisCt≈C

a +C

bassumingC

ctobenegligiblysmall.If C

k

>>Ct,thechargetransferisgivenby

q = i(t)dt≈(Ca+C

b)∆V

Now ∆V= Cb

Ca +Cb

and ∆V= q

Ca +Cb

∆Vc

Therefore, q

Ca +Cb

= Cb

Ca +Cb

∆Vc

or q=Cb

∆VC

Hereqisknownasapparentchargeasitisnotequaltothechargelocallyinvolvedi.e.Cc∆V

c.

Thischargeqis,however,morerealisticthancalculating∆V,asqisindependentofCa

whereas∆V

dependsuponCa.

InpracticetheconditionCk

>>Ct

isneversatisfiedastheCk

willoverloadthesupplyandalso

itwillbeuneconomical.However,ifCk

isslightlygreaterthanCt,thesensitivityofmeasurementis

reducedasthecompensatingcurrentic

(t)becomessmall.IfCt

is comparabletoCk

and∆Visthedrop

involtageof Ct

asaresultofdischarge,thetransferofchargebetween Ct

andCk

willresultinto

commonvoltage∆V′.

∆V′= Ct ∆V+Ck.O

= Ct +Ck

Ct ∆V

Ct+Ck

= q

Ct +Ck

∆V′isthenetriseinvoltageoftheparallelcombinationofCkandC

t and,therefore,thecharge

qm

transferredtoCt fromC

k willbe

qm

=Ck∆V′

Thechargeqm

isknownasmeasurablecharge.Theratioofmeasurablechargetoapparent

chargeis,therefore,givenas

qm = q

Ck

Ct +Ck

Inordertohavehighsensitivityofmeasurementsi.e.,highqm/q itisclearthatC

kshouldbelarge

compared toCt.ButweknowthattherearedisadvantagesinhavinglargevalueofC

k.Therefore,this

methodofmeasurementofPDhaslimitedapplications.



ThemeasurementofPDcurrentpulsesprovidesimportantinformationconcerningthedischarge

processesinatestspecimen.Thetimeresponseofanelectricdischargedependsmainlyonthenature of

faultanddesignofinsulatingmaterial.Theshapeofthecircularcurrentisanindicationofthe physical

discharge process at the fault location in the test object. The principle of measurement ofPD

currentisshowninFig.7.25.

Fig.7.23Principleofpulsecurrentmeasurement

HereCindicatesthestraycapacitancebetweentheleadofCtandtheearth,theinputcapaci-

tanceoftheamplifierandotherstraycapacitances.Thefunctionofthehighpassamplifieristosup-

pressthepowerfrequencydisplacementcurrentik(t)andI

c(t)andtofurtheramplifytheshortduration

currentpulses.ThusthedelaycableiselectricallydisconnectedfromtheresistanceR.Supposeduring

apartialdischargeashortdurationpulsecurrentδ(t)isproducedandresultsinapparentchargeqonCt

whichwillberedistributedbetweenCt,CandC

k .ThecircuitforthesameisgiveninFig.7.24.

(i)Pulseshapednoisesignals:TheseareduetoimpulsephenomenonsimilartoPDcurrents.

(ii)Harmonicsignals:Thesearemainlyduetopowersupplyandthyristorisedcontrollers.

Wearetakingapparentchargeastheindexlevelofthepartialdischargeswhichisintegrationof

PDpulse currents. Therefore, continuous alternating current of any frequency would disturb the

integrationprocessofthemeasuringcircuitandhenceitisimportantthatthesecurrents(otherthanPD

currents)mustbesuppressedbeforethemixtureofcurrentsispassedthroughtheintegratingcircuit.

Thesolutiontotheproblemisobtainedbyusingfiltercircuitswhichmaybecompletelyindependentof

integratingcircuits.

Fig.7.26showstwodifferentwaysinwhichthemeasuringimpedanceZm

canbeconnectedin thecircuit.

Z



z

NB

ampl.

Peak level indi- cator

P C

meter

V2 (t)

V2

Ct

V Ck

M Zm

(a)

Z

Ck

Ct

Zm M

(b)

Fig.7.26

InFig.7.26(a)Zm

isconnectedinserieswith Ct

andprovidesbettersensitivityasthePD

currentsexcitedfromCtwouldbebetterpickedupbymeasuringcircuitZ

m. However,thedisadvantage

isthatincaseofpunctureofthetestspecimenthemeasuringcircuitwouldalsobedamaged. Specifically

forthisreason,thesecondarrangementinwhichZm

isconnectedbetweenthegroundterminalofCk

andthegroundandisthecircuitmostcommonlyused.

Asismentionedearlier,accordingtointernationalstandardsthelevelofpartialdischargesis judged by

quantity of apparent charge measured. The apparent charge is obtained by integration of the

circularcurrentic(t).ThisoperationiscarriedoutonthePDpulsesusing‘wideband’and‘narrow

band’,measuringsystems.Thesearebasicallybandpassfilterswithamplifyingaction.Ifweexamine

thefrequencyspectrumofthepulsecurrent,itwillbeclearwhybandpassfiltersaresuitablefor

integratingPDpulsecurrents.

Weknowthatforanon-periodicpulsecurrenti(t),thecomplexfrequencyspectrumofthe

currentisgivenbyFouriertransformas

NarrowBandPD-DetectionCircuit

AnarrowbandPDdetectioncircuitisbasicallyaverysensitivemeasurementreceivercircuitwitha

continuouslyvariablemeasuringorcentrefrequencyfm

intherangeofapproximately50kHZtosev-

eralMHz.Thenomenclaturetonarrow-bandisjustifiedasthebandwidthofthefilteramplifieris

typicallyonly9kHz.However,ifspecialcircumstancesdemand,thebandwidthmaybeslightlymade

widerornarrowerthan9kHz.

Fig.7.31showsanarrowbandPDmeasuringcircuit.ℑ

Z

V0 (t)

V1 (t)



R L

Fig.7.31BasicnarrowbandPDmeasuringcircuit

ParallelcombinationofRandLconstitutethemeasuringimpedanceZm.Themeasuringimpe-

danceactsasahighpassandhighfrequencyPDcurrentspulsesi(t)aredecoupledfromthetestcircuit. WhereasinwidebandcircuitsthemeasuringimpedanceZ

m(R||L||C)performsintegrationoperation

ontheinputDiracdeltacurrenti(t),nointegration iscarriedoutbyZminthenarrowbandcircuit.Alow

resistanceratingofthemeasuringimpedanceZm

preventsthattheseriesconnectionofCk andC

tat-

tenuateshighfrequencycomponentsofPDsignals.SincethedelaycableisterminatedwithZ0whichis

thesurgeimpedanceofthecableitselfthecapacitanceCc ofthecabledoesnotplayanyrole.

AssumingthattheparallelcombinationofRandLissochosenthatLdoesnotperform integrating

operation on the input signali(t) = I0

δ(t),thevoltagev1(t)at the input of the narrow band amplifier is

proportionaltothePDimpulsecurrenti(t)i.e.,

v1

(t)=I0 δ(t)R

m

Again,assumingthati(t)=I0 e–t/τasinFig.7.27,wehave

v1 (t)=I

0e–t/τR

m

I0 τRm V0 τ

V1(jω)=

1+jω τ=

1+jω τ

RZ0

where Rm =R+Z

0

ThetimeconstantofthecircuitT=Rm

C

CtCk

where C = Ct +Ck

Let S0

=V0

τ ThequantityS

0containstheinformationconcerningtheindividualpulsechargeqandisreferred

toastheintegralsignalamplitudeandisrepresentedinFig.7.34.

V0

S0 =V0t

V1 (jw)

V1 (t) V0 t

t t

(a) (b)

ònw

Fig.7.32(a)Approximatevoltageimpulse(b)Itsfrequencyresponse

Table7.1



ComparisonbetweenwidebandandnarrowbandPDmeasuringcircuits

WideBand NarrowBand

4.

4.

5.

4.

5.

7.

7.

Bandwidth

Centrefrequency

Pulseresolutiontime

Pulsepolarity

Noisesusceptibility

MaximumadmissiblePD

pulsewidth

Indicationofmeasured

value

f2–f

1 =150to200kHz

Fixedf0

=80–150kHz

Smallabout15µsec.

Detectable

Relativelyhighasno.of

interferencesources

increaseswithbandwidth

Approx1µsec.

DirectlyinpC

∆f=9kHz

Variablefm

=50kHzto2MHz

Largeabout220µsec.

Notdetectable

Lowduetoselectivemeasurements

throughvariablecentrefrequency.

Dependsuponf

m in

DirectlyinpC

Tableaboveshowsrelativemeritsanddemeritsofthetwocircuits.However,inpracticalsitua-

tions,asystemthatcanbeswitchedoverbetweenwidebandandnarrowbandshouldprovetobemore

versatileanduseful.

OSCILLOSCOPEASPDMEASURINGDEVICE OscilloscopeisanintegralandindispensablecomponentofaPDmeasuringsystem.Anindicating

metere.g.apCmeterandRIVmetercangivequantityofcharge,whetherthechargeisasaresultof

partialdischargeorduetoexternalinterferences,cannotbeestimated.Thisproblemcanbesolvedonly

iftheoutputwaveformisstudiedontheOscilloscope.Whethertheoriginofthedischargesisfrom

withinthetestobjectornot,canfrequentlybedeterminedbasedonthetypicalpatterns.Ifitisascer-

tainedfromthepatternsthatthedischargeisfromthetestobject,themagnitudeoftheapparentcharge

shouldbemeasuredwithpCmetersorRIVmeters.Thepeakvalueoftheintegratedpulsecurrentisthe

desiredapparentchargeq.Thesesignalsarenormallysuperposedonthea.c.testvoltageforobserva-

tionontheOscilloscope.Dependinguponthepreferenceseithersineorellipticalshapescanbese-

lected.Onecompleterotationoftheellipseoronecompletecycleofsinewaveequals20msec.of

duration.Sincethedurationofthesecurrentpulsestobemeasuredisafewmicrosecond,thesepulses

whenseenonthepowerfrequencywave,looklikeverticallinesofvaryingheightssuperimposedon

thepowerfrequencywaves.

WhenevercalibrationfacilityexistsinthePDtestcircuit,thecalibrationcurveofknowncharge

appearsonthescreen.Thecalibrationpulsecanbeshiftedentirelyalongtheellipseorsinecurveofthe

powersupplyandthesignaltobemeasuredcanbecomparedwiththecalibrationpulse.

Example1:A20kV,50HzScheringbridgehasastandardcapacitanceof106µF.Inatest ona

bakelitesheetbalancewasobtainedwithacapacitanceof0.35µF inparallelwithanon-inductive

resistanceof318ohms,thenon-inductiveresistanceintheremainingarmofthebridgebeing130

ohms.Determinetheequivalentseriesresistanceandcapacitanceandthep.f.ofthespecimen.

Solution:HereC′s=106µF,C

2 =0.35µF



s

R

R2

=318ohmsandR1

=130ohms.

Since R =R C2

=130× s 1

C′

0.35

106 =0.429ohm Ans.

R2

and Cs =C′ s

1

318 =106× =259µF Ans.

130

tanδs =ωC

s R

s =314×259×10–6×0.429

=5.5×104 ×10–6=0.035 Ans.

Since tanδ=sinδ=cos(90–δ)

=cosφ=0.035 Ans.



R

R

Example 2.Determinep.f.andtheequivalentparallelresistanceandcapacitanceoftherestspeci-

menofexample7.1

Solution:Forparallelequivalent

R2

Cp

=Cs

1

HereCs isthestandardcapacitance

318 C

p =106×

130=259µF Ans.

R1

Rp=

ω2 C C R2

Rp =

2 s 2

130

3142 ×0.35×106×10−12×3182

=351ohms Ans.

tanδ= 1

314×351×259×10−6

1 = =0.035

28.54 Ans.

Example 3.A 33 kV,50HzhighvoltageScheringbridgeisusedtotestasampleofinsulation.The

variousarmshavethefollowingparametersonbalance.Thestandardcapacitance500pF,theresis-

tivebranch800ohmandbranchwithparallelcombinationofresistanceandcapacitancehasvalues

180ohmsand0.15µF.Determinethevalueofthecapacitanceofthissampleitsparallelequivalent lossresistance,thep.f.andthepowerlossunderthesetestconditions.

Solution:Given Cs =500pF

R1=800ohm

R2

=180ohm

C2

=0.15µF

Now C

=C R2 =500×10−12×

180=

p s 114.5pF 1 800

R1 800 R

p =

ω2C C R2 = 3142 ×500×10−12×0.15×10−6×1802

2 s 2



pp

= 800

4.3958×1011×1018

1

=335.9×107 =3339 MΩ

1

p.f.=tanδp =

ωC R =

314×114.5×10−12×3339×106

= 1

117.95

0.008478 Ans.

V2

Powerloss = R

332 ×10

6

= 3339×106

=0.326watts Ans.

Example 4.Alengthofcableistestedforinsulationresistancebythelossofchargemethod.An

electrostaticvoltmeterofinfiniteresistanceisconnectedbetweenthecableconductorandearthform-

ingtherewithajointcapacitanceof600pF.Itisobservedthatafterchargingthevoltagefallsfrom250

voltsto92Vinonemin.Determinetheinsulationresistanceofthecable.

Solution:Thevoltageatanytimetisgivenas

v=Ve–t/CR

whereVistheinitialvoltage

or V

=et/CR

v

or 1nV

= t

v CR

t 60 or R= =

C1nV v

= 60

600×10−12

1n250

92

600×10−12×1

=100,000Mohms Ans.

Example5.Followingmeasurementsaremadetodeterminethedielectricconstantandcomplex

permittivityofatestspecimen:

Theaircapacitanceoftheelectrodesystem=50pF

Thecapacitanceandlossangleoftheelectrodeswithspecimen=190pFand0.0085respectively.

190 Solution:Thedielectricconstantε

r = =5.8

50

Nowcomplexpermittivityε =ε′–jε″

=ε0

(εr′–jε

r″)



εr′=ε

r =5.8

tanδ =εr″=

ε r ″=0.0085

εr′ 5.8



or εr″=0.0323

ε=ε0 (5.8–j0.0323)

=8.854×10–12(5.8–j0.0323)

=(5.36–j0.0286)×10–11F/m Ans.

Example 6.Determinethespecificheatgeneratedinthetestspecimenduetodielectriclossifthe

dielectricconstantandlossangleofthespecimenare5.8and0.0085respectively.Theelectricfieldis

40kV/cmat50Hz.]

Solution:Thespecificlossisgivenby

σE2 Watts/m3

whereσistheconductivityofthespecimenandEthestrengthofelectricfield.

Alsoweknowthat

tanδ = σ

ωε0εr

or σ=ωε0ε

r tanδ

Therefore,specificlossisgivenas

σE2 =ωε0ε

r tanδE2

=314×8.854×10–12×5.8×0.0085×1600×1010

=1436Watts/m3 Ans.

Example7.Asoliddielectricof1cmthicknessandεr=5.8hasaninternalvoidof1mmthickness. If

thevoidisfilledwithairwhichbreaksdownat21KV/cm,determinethevoltageatwhichaninternal

dischargecanoccur.

Solution:RefertoFig.Ex.7.7

Forinternaldischargetotakeplacethegradientinvoidshouldbe21kV/cm.Therefore,the

gradientinthedielectricslabwillbe

21=5.526kV/cm.

5.8

Therefore,totalvoltagerequiredtoproducethesegradientwillbe

=5.526×0.9+21×0.1

=4.97+4.1

=7.07kVrms Ans.



Questions

1.Whatisnon-destructivetestingofinsulatingmaterials?Giveverybrieflythecharacteristicsof thesemethods.

2.Startingfromfirstprinciples,developexpressiontoevolveequivalentcircuitofaninsulatingmaterial.

3.Drawaneatdiagramofahighvoltagescheringbridgeanddescribevariousfeaturesofthebridge.

4. Describethefunctionsof(i)Nulldetector(ii)Automaticguardpotentialregulatorusedinhighvoltage

Scheringbridge.

5. DrawaneatdiagramofhighvoltageScheringbridgeandanalyseitforbalancedcondition. Drawits

phasordiagram.Assume(i)Seriesequivalent(ii)Parallelequivalentrepresentationoftheinsulatingma- terial.

6.Whatmodificationsdoyousuggestinthebasic Scheringbridgewhilemeasuringlarge capacitances?

Giveitsanalysis.Howtheexpressionsforcapacitanceandlossanglegetmodified?

7. Whatisaninvertedscheringbridge?Giveitsapplication.

8. Explain the operation of high voltage Schering bridge when the test specimen (i) is grounded (ii) has high

lossfactor.

9. Discussvarioustypesoftransformerratioarmbridgesandgivetheirapplicationandadvantages.

10. Describewithaneatdiagramtheprincipleoftheoperationoftransformercurrentratioarmbridge.Ex-

plainhowthisisusedformeasurementofcapacitanceandlossfactorofaninsulatingmaterial.

11.Whatarepartialdischarges?Differentiatebetweeninternalandexternaldischarges.

12.Developanddrawequivalentcircuitofinsulatingmaterialduringpartialdischarge.

13.What is apparent charge in relation to partial discharges? Show that the calculation of apparentchargeas

ameasureofpartialdischargeseventhoughismorerealisticthancalculationofchangeinvoltageacross

theelectrode,haslimitedapplicationforpartialdischargemeasurement.

14. Explainwithneatdiagrambasicprincipleofpulsecurrentmeasurementforestimationof partial discharges.

15. Writeshortnoteonthemeasuringimpedancecircuitforestimationofpartialdischarges.

16.Showsthatthed.c.contentofthefrequencyspectrumequalstheapparentchargeinthepulsecurrent.

17. Explainwithneatdiagramshowwidebandcircuitcanbeusedformeasuringpartialdischarge.

18. “Forpropermeasurementofpartialdischargetheresolutiontimeofthecircuitshouldbesmallerthanthe time-

constantofthecurrentpulse”Why?Explain.

19. ExplainwithneatdiagramtheNarrow-BandPD-detectioncircuit.

20. Showthattheimpulseresponseofnarrow-bandpassreceiverisanOscilatoryandwithmainfrequencyfm

andtheamplitudeisgivenbysignumfunction.Discussthelimitationofnarrowbandpassdetector.

21.ComparetheperformanceofnarrowbandandwidebandPDmeasuringcircuits.

22.Explainwithneatdiagramabridgecircuitusedforsuppressinginterferencesignals.

23.WriteashortnoteontheuseofanOscilloscopeasaPDmeasuringdevice.



UNIT- 8

HIGH VOLTAGE TESTS ON ELECTRICAL APPARATUS: Definitions of

terminologies, tests on isolators, circuit breakers, cables insulators and transformers

Theveryfastdevelopmentofsystemsisfollowed bystudies

ofequipmentandtheserviceconditionstheyhavetofulfill.Theseconditionswillalso

determinethevaluesfortestingatalternating,impulseandd.c.voltagesunderspecificconditions.

As wegoforhigherandhigheroperatingvoltages(sayabove1000kV)certainproblemsare

associatedwiththetestingtechniques.Someoftheseare:

(i)Dimensionofhighvoltagetestlaboratories.

(ii)Characteristicsofequipmentforsuchlaboratories.

(iii)Somespecialaspectsofthetesttechniquesatextrahighvoltages.

Thedimensionsoflaboratoriesfortestequipmentsof750kVandabovearefixedbythefollowing

mainconsiderations:

(i)Figures(values)oftestvoltagesunderdifferentconditions.

(ii)Sizesofthetestofequipmentsina.c.,d.c.andimpulsevoltages.

(iii) Distancesbetweentheobjectsunderhighvoltageduringthetestperiodandtheearthed

surroundingssuchasfloors,wallsandroofsofthebuildings.Theproblemsassociatedwith

thecharacteristicsoftheequipmentsusedfortestingaresummarisedhere.

Therearesomedifficultproblemswithimpulsetestingequipmentsalsoespeciallywhentesting

largepowertransformersorlargereactorsorlargecablesoperating atveryhighvoltages.Theequiva-

lentcapacitanceoftheimpulsegeneratorisusuallyabout40nanofaradsindependentoftheoperating

voltagewhichgivesastoredenergyofabout1/2×40 10–9×36×109 =720KJfor6MVgenerators which

isrequiredfortestingequipmentsoperatingat150kV.Itisnotatalldifficulttopileupalarge

numberofcapacitancestochargetheminparallelandthendischargeinseriestoobtainadesired

impulsewave.Butthedifficultyexistsinreducingtheinternalreactanceofthecircuitsothatashort

wavefrontwithminimumoscillationcanbeobtained.Forexamplefora4MVcircuittheinductanceof

thecircuitisabout140 µHanditisimpossibletotestanequipmentwithacapacitanceof5000pFwith

afronttimeof4.2µsec.andlessthan5%overshootonthewavefront.

Cascadedrectifiersareusedforhighvoltaged.c.testing.Acarefulconsiderationisnecessary

whentestonpollutedinsulationistobeperformedwhichrequirescurrentsof50to200mAbutex- tremely

predischarge streamer of 0.5 to 1 amp during milliseconds occur. The generator must have an

internalreactanceinordertomaintainthetestvoltagewithouttoohighavoltagedrop.

TESTINGOFOVERHEADLINEINSULATORS

Varioustypesofoverheadlineinsulatorsare(i)Pintype(ii)Posttype(iii)Stringinsulatorunit

(iv)Suspensioninsulatorstring(v)Tensioninsulator.



ArrangementofInsulatorsforTest

Stringinsulatorunitshouldbehungbyasuspensioneyefromanearthedmetalcrossarm.Thetest

voltageisappliedbetweenthecrossarmandtheconductorhungverticallydownfromthemetalparton

thelowersideoftheinsulatorunit.

Suspensionstringwithallitsaccessoriesasinserviceshouldbehungfromanearthedmetal

crossarm.Thelengthofthecrossarmshouldbeatleast4.5timesthelengthofthestringbeingtested

andshouldbeatleastequalto0.9moneithersideoftheaxisofthestring.Nootherearthedobject

shouldbenearertotheinsulatorstringthen0.9mor4.5timesthelengthofthestringwhicheveris

greater.Aconductorofactualsizetobeusedinserviceorofdiameternotlessthan1cmandlength4.5

timesthelengthofthestringissecuredinthesuspensionclampandshouldlieinahorizontalplane.

Thetestvoltageisappliedbetweentheconductorandthecrossarmandconnectionfromtheimpulse

generatorismadewithalengthofwiretooneendoftheconductor.Forhigheroperatingvoltages

wherethelengthofthestringislarge,itisadvisabletosacrificethelengthoftheconductorasstipu-

latedabove.Instead,itisdesirabletobendtheendsoftheconductoroverinalargeradius.

Fortensioninsulatorsthearrangementismoreorlesssameasinsuspensioninsulatorexcept

thatitshouldbeheldinanapproximatelyhorizontalpositionunderasuitabletension(about1000Kg.).

Highvoltagetestingofelectricalequipmentrequirestwotypesoftests:(i) Typetests,and(ii) Routine

test. Type tests involves quality testing of equipment at the design and development leveli.e.

samplesoftheproductaretakenandaretestedwhenanewproductisbeingdevelopedanddesignedor

anoldproductistoberedesignedanddevelopedwhereastheroutinetestsaremeanttocheckthe quality of the

individual test piece. This is carried out to ensure quality and reliability of individual test objects.

Highvoltagetestsinclude(i)Powerfrequencytestsand(ii)Impulsetests.Thesetestsarecar-

riedoutonallinsulators.

(i)50%dryimpulseflashovertest.

(ii)Impulsewithstandtest.

(iii)Dryflashoveranddryoneminutetest.

(iv)Wetflashoverandoneminuteraintest.

(v)Temperaturecycletest.

(vi)Electro-mechanicaltest.

(vii)Mechanicaltest.

(viii)Porositytest.

(ix)Puncturetest.

(x)Mechanicalroutinetest.

Thetestsmentionedabovearebrieflydescribedhere.

(i) Thetestiscarriedoutonacleaninsulatormountedasinanormalworkingcondition.An impulse

voltage of 1/50µ sec.waveshapeandofanamplitudewhichcancause50%flashoverofthe

insulator,isapplied,i.e.oftheimpulsesapplied50%oftheimpulsesshouldcauseflashover.The

polarityoftheimpulseisthenreversedandprocedurerepeated.Theremustbeatleast20applications

oftheimpulseineachcaseandtheinsulatormustnotbedamaged.Themagnitudeoftheimpulse

voltageshouldnotbelessthanthatspecifiedinstandardspecifications.

(ii)Theinsulatorissubjectedtostandardimpulseof1/50µsec.waveofspecifiedvalueunder



dryconditionswithbothpositiveandnegativepolarities.Iffiveconsecutiveapplicationsdonotcause

anyflashoverorpuncture,theinsulatorisdeemedtohavepassedtheimpulsewithstandtest.Ifoutof

five,twoapplicationscauseflashover,theinsulatorisdeemedtohavefiledthetest.

(iii)Powerfrequencyvoltageisappliedtotheinsulatorandthevoltageincreasedtothespeci- fied

valueandmaintainedforoneminute.Thevoltageisthenincreasedgraduallyuntilflashover

occurs.Theinsulatoristhenflashedoveratleastfourmoretimes,thevoltageisraisedgraduallyto

reachflashoverinabout10seconds.Themeanofatleastfiveconsecutiveflashovervoltagesmustnot

belessthanthevaluespecifiedinspecifications.

(iv)If the test is carried out under artificial rain, it is called wet flash over test. The insulator is

subjectedtosprayofwateroffollowingcharacteristics:

Precipitationrate 3±10%mm/min. Direction

45°tothevertical

Conductivityofwater 100microsiemens±10%

TemperatureofwaterAmbient+15°C

Theinsulatorwith50%oftheone-min.raintestvoltageappliedtoit,isthensprayedfortwo

minutes,thevoltageraisedtotheoneminutetestvoltageinapproximately10sec.andmaintainedthere

foroneminute.Thevoltageisthenincreasedgraduallytillflashoveroccursandtheinsulatoristhen

flashedatleastfourmoretimes,thetimetakentoreachflashovervoltagebeingineachcaseabout

10sec.Theflashovervoltagemustnotbelessthanthevaluespecifiedinspecifications.

(v)Theinsulatorisimmersedinahotwaterbathwhosetemperatureis70°higherthannormal

waterbathforTminutes.ItisthentakenoutandimmediatelyimmersedinnormalwaterbathforT minutes.

AfterT minutestheinsulatorisagainimmersedinhotwaterbathforT minutes.Thecycleis

repeatedthreetimesanditisexpectedthattheinsulatorshouldwithstandthetestwithoutdamagetothe

insulatororglaze.HereT=(15+W/4.36)whereWistheweightoftheinsulatorinkgs.

(vi)Thetestiscarriedoutonlyonsuspensionortensiontypeofinsulator.Theinsulatoris subjected to a

2½ times the specified maximum working tension maintained for one minute. Also,

simultaneously75%ofthedryflashovervoltageisapplied.Theinsulatorshouldwithstandthistest

withoutanydamage.

(vii)Thisisabendingtestapplicable topintypeandline-postinsulators.Theinsulatorissub- jected to a

load three times the specified maximum breaking load for one minute. There should be no damage to

the insulator and in case of post insulator the permanent set must be less than 1%. However,

incaseofpostinsulator,theloadisthenraisedtothreetimesandthereshouldnotbeanydamagetothe

insulatoranditspin.

(viii)Theinsulatorisbrokenandimmersedina0.5%alcoholsolutionoffuchsinunderapres-

sureof13800kN/m2 for24hours.Thebrokeninsulatoristakenoutandfurtherbroken.Itshouldnot

showanysignofimpregnation.

(ix)Animpulseovervoltageisappliedbetweenthepinandtheleadfoilboundoverthetopand

sidegroovesincaseofpintypeandpostinsulatorandbetweenthemetalfittingsincaseofsuspension

typeinsulators.Thevoltageis1/50 µsec.wavewithamplitudetwicethe50%impulseflashover

voltageandnegativepolarity.Twentysuchapplicationsareapplied.Theprocedureisrepeatedfor4.5,

3,5.5timesthe50%impulseflashovervoltageandcontinuedtilltheinsulatorispunctured.The

insulatormustnotpunctureifthevoltageappliedisequaltotheonespecifiedinthespecification.

(x)Thestringininsulatorissuspendedverticallyorhorizontallyandatensileload20%in

excessofthemaximumspecifiedworkingloadisappliedforoneminuteandnodamagetothestring



shouldoccur.

TESTINGOFCABLES

Highvoltage power cables have proved quite useful especially in case of HV d.c. transmission. Under-

grounddistributionusingcablesnotonlyaddstotheaestheticlooksofametropolitancitybutitpro-

videsbetterenvironmentsandmorereliablesupplytotheconsumers.

PreparationofCableSample

Thecablesamplehastobecarefullypreparedforperformingvarioustestsespeciallyelectricaltests.

Thisisessentialtoavoidanyexcessiveleakageorendflashoverswhichotherwisemayoccurduring

testingandhencemaygivewronginformationregardingthequalityofcables.Thelengthofthesample

cablevariesbetween50cmsto10m.Theterminationsareusuallymadebyshieldingtheendsofthe

cablewithstressshieldssoastorelievetheendsfromexcessivehighelectricalstresses.

Acableissubjectedtofollowingtests:

(i)Bendingtests.

(ii)Loadingcycletest.

(iii)Thermalstabilitytest.

(iv)Dielectricthermalresistancetest.

(v)Lifeexpectancytest.

(vi)Dielectricpowerfactortest.

(vii)Powerfrequencywithstandvoltagetest.

(viii)Impulsewithstandvoltagetest.

(ix)Partialdischargetest.

(i)Itistobenotedthatavoltagetestshouldbemadebeforeandafterabendingtest.Thecable is

bentroundacylinderofspecifieddiametertomakeonecompleteturn.Itisthenunwoundand

rewoundintheoppositedirection.Thecycleistoberepeatedthreetimes.

(ii)Atestloop,consistingofcableanditsaccessoriesissubjectedto20loadcycleswitha

minimumconductortemperature5°Cinexcessofthedesignvalueandthecableisenergizedto

4.5timestheworkingvoltage.Thecableshouldnotshowanysignofdamage.

(iii)After test as at (ii), the cable is energized with a voltage 4.5 times the working voltage for a

cableof132kVrating(themultiplyingfactordecreaseswithincreasesinoperatingvoltage)andthe

loadingcurrentissoadjustedthatthetemperatureofthecoreofthecableis5°Chigherthanitsspeci-

fiedpermissibletemperature.Thecurrentshouldbemaintainedatthisvalueforsixhours.

(iv)Theratioofthetemperaturedifferencebetweenthecoreandsheathofthecableandthe heat flow

from the cable gives the thermal resistance of the sample of the cable. It should be within the

limitsspecifiedinthespecifications.

(v)Inordertoestimatelifeofacable,anacceleratedlifetestiscarriedoutbysubjectingthe

cabletoavoltagestresshigherthanthenormalworkingstress.Ithasbeenobservedthattherelation

betweentheexpectedlifeofthecableinhoursandthevoltagestressisgivenby

g= K n t

whereKisaconstantwhichdependsonmaterialandnisthelifeindexdependingagainonthe material.



(vi)HighVoltageScheringBridgeisusedtoperformdielectricpowerfactortestonthecable

sample.Thepowerfactorismeasuredfordifferentvaluesofvoltagese.g.0.5,4.0,4.5and4.0timesthe

ratedoperatingvoltages.Themaximumvalueofpowerfactoratnormalworkingvoltagedoesnot

exceed aspecifiedvalue(usually0.01)ataseriesoftemperaturesrangingfrom15°Cto65°C.The

differenceinthepowerfactorbetweenratedvoltageand4.5timestheratedvoltageandtherated voltage and

twice the rated voltage does not exceed a specified value. Sometimes the source is not able to supply

charging current required by the test cable, a suitable choke in series with the test cable helps

intidingoverthesituation.

(vii)Cablesaretestedforpowerfrequencya.c.andd.c.voltages.Duringmanufacturetheentire

cableispassedthroughahighervoltagetestandtheratedvoltagetocheckthecontinuityofthecable.

Asaroutinetestthecableissubjectedtoavoltage4.5timestheworkingvoltagefor10minwithout

damagingtheinsulationofthecable.HVd.c.of4.8timestheratedd.c.voltageofnegativepolarityfor

30min.isappliedandthecableissaidtohavewithstoodthetestifnoinsulationfailuretakesplace.

(viii)Thetestcableissubjectedto10positiveand10negativeimpulsevoltageofmagnitudeas

specifiedinspecification,thecableshouldwithstand5applicationswithoutanydamage.Usually,after

theimpulse test, the power frequency dielectric power factor test is carried out to ensure that no failure

occurredduringtheimpulsetest.

(ix)Partialdischargemeasurementofcablesisveryimportantasitgivesanindicationofex-

pectedlifeofthecableanditgiveslocationoffault,ifany,inthecable.

Whenacableissubjectedtohighvoltageandifthereisavoidinthecable,thevoidbreaks

downandadischargetakesplace.Asaresult,thereisasuddendipinvoltageintheformofanimpulse.

ThisimpulsetravelsalongthecableasexplainedindetailinChapterVI.Thedurationbetweenthe

normalpulseandthedischargepulseismeasuredontheoscilloscopeandthisdistancegivestheloca-

tionofthevoidfromthetestendofthecable.However,theshapeofthepulsegivesthenatureand

intensityofthedischarge.

In ordertoscantheentirelengthofthecableagainstvoidsorotherimperfections,itispassed through a

tube of insulating material filled with distilled water. Four electrodes, two at the end and two

inthemiddleofthetubearearranged.Themiddleelectrodesarelocatedatastipulateddistanceand

theseareenergizedwithhighvoltage.Thetwoendelectrodesandcableconductoraregrounded.As

thecableispassedbetweenthemiddleelectrode,ifadischargeisseenontheoscilloscope,adefectin this part of

the cable is stipulated and hence this part of the cable is removed from the rest of the cable.

TESTINGOFPOWERTRANSFORMERS

Transformerisoneofthemostexpensiveandimportantequipmentinpowersystem.Ifitisnotsuitably

designeditsfailuremaycausealengthyandcostlyoutage.Therefore,itisveryimportanttobecautious while

designing its insulation, so that it can withstand transient over voltage both due to switching and

lightning.Thehighvoltagetestingoftransformersis,therefore,veryimportantandwouldbediscussed here.

Other tests like temperature rise, short circuit, open circuit etc. are not considered here. However,

thesecanbefoundintherelevantstandardspecification.

PartialDischargeTest

The testiscarriedoutonthewindingsofthetransformertoassessthemagnitudeofdischarges.The

transformerisconnectedasatestspecimensimilartoanyotherequipmentasdiscussedinChapter-VI

andthedischargemeasurementsaremade.Thelocationandseverityoffaultisascertainedusingthe



travellingwavetheorytechniqueasexplainedinChapterVI.Themeasurementsaretobemadeatall

theterminals of the transformer and it is estimated that if the apparent measured charge exceeds 104

picocoulombs,thedischargemagnitudeisconsideredtobesevereandthetransformerinsulationshould

besodesignedthatthedischargemeasurementshouldbemuchbelowthevalueof104pico-coulombs.

ImpulseTestingofTransformer

The impulselevelofatransformerisdeterminedbythebreakdownvoltageofitsminorinsulation (Insulation

between turn and between windings), breakdown voltage of its major insulation (insulation between

windings and tank) and the flash over voltage of its bushings or a combination of these. The impulse

characteristics of internal insulation in a transformer differs from flash over in air in two main

respects.Firstlytheimpulseratioofthetransformerinsulationishigher(variesfrom4.1to4.2)than that of

bushing (4.5forbushings,insulatorsetc.).Secondly,theimpulsebreakdownoftransformer

KV

1 2 3 4 5 t

Fig.8.1Volttimecurveoftypicalmajorinsulationintransformer

insulation inpracticallyconstantandisindependentoftimeofapplicationofimpulsevoltage.Fig.8.1 shows

that after three micro seconds the flash over voltage is substantially constant. The voltage stress

betweentheturnsofthesamewindingandbetweendifferentwindingsofthetransformerdepends

uponthesteepnessofthesurgewavefront.Thevoltagestressmayfurthergetaggravatedbythepiling

upactionofthewaveifthelengthofthesurgewaveislarge.Infact,duetohighsteepnessofthesurge

waves,thefirstfewturnsofthewindingareoverstressedandthatiswhythemodernpracticeisto

provideextrainsulationtothefirstfewturnsofthewinding.Fig.8.2showstheequivalentcircuitofa

transformerwindingforimpulsevoltage.

Fig.8.2Equivalentcircuitofatransformerforimpulsevoltage

HereC1

represents inter-turncapacitanceandC2

capacitance betweenwindingandtheground (tank).

In order that the minor insulation will be able to withstand the impulse voltage, the winding is subjected

to chopped impulse wave of higher peak voltage than the full wave. This chopped wave is

producedbyflashoverofarodgaporbushinginparallelwiththetransformerinsulation.Thechop-

pingtimeisusually3to6microseconds.Whileimpulsevoltageisappliedbetweenonephaseand



ground,highvoltageswouldbeinducedinthesecondaryofthetransformer.Toavoidthis,thesecond-

arywindingsareshort-circuitedandfinallyconnectedtoground.Theshortcircuiting,however,de-

creasestheimpedanceofthetransformerandhenceposesprobleminadjustingthewavefrontand

wavetailtimingsofwave.Also,theminimumvalueoftheimpulsecapacitancerequiredisgivenby

whereP=ratedMVAofthetransformerZ=percentimpedanceoftransformer.V=ratedvoltageof transformer.

Fig.8.3showsthearrangementofthetransformerforimpulsetesting.CROformsanintegral

partofthetransformerimpulsetestingcircuit.Itisrequiredtorecordtowaveformsoftheapplied

voltageandcurrentthroughthewindingundertest.

Fig.8.3Arrangementforimpulsetestingoftransformer

Impulsetestingconsistsofthefollowingsteps:

(i)Applicationofimpulseofmagnitude75%oftheBasicImpulseLevel(BIL)ofthetransformer

undertest.

(ii)Onefullwaveof100%ofBIL.

(iii)Twochoppedwaveof115%ofBIL.

(iv)Onefullwaveof100%BILand

(v)Onefullwaveof75%ofBIL.

During impulsetestingthefaultcanbelocatedbygeneralobservationlikenoiseinthetankor

smokeorbubbleinthebreather.

If thereisafault,itappearsontheOscilloscopeasapartialofcompletecollapseoftheapplied voltage.

Study ofthewaveformoftheneutralcurrentalsoindicatedthetypeoffault.Ifanarcoccurs

betweentheturnsorformturntotheground,atrainofhighfrequencypulsesareseenontheoscillo-

scopeandwaveshapeofimpulsechanges.Ifitisapartialdischargeonly,highfrequencyoscillations

areobservedbutnochangeinwaveshapeoccurs.

Thebushingformsanimportantandintegralpartoftransformerinsulation.Therefore,itsim-

pulseflashovermustbecarefullyinvestigated.Theimpulsestrengthofthetransformerwindingis



sameforeitherpolarityofwavewhereastheflashovervoltageforbushingisdifferentfordifferent

polarity.Themanufacturer,however,whilespecifyingtheimpulsestrengthofthetransformertakes

intoconsiderationtheoverallimpulsecharacteristicofthetransformer.

TESTINGOFCIRCUITBREAKERS

Anequipmentwhendesignedtocertainspecificationandisfabricated,needstestingforitsperform-

ance.Thegeneraldesignistriedandtheresultsofsuchtestsconductedononeselectedbreakerandare

thusapplicabletoallothersofidenticalconstruction.Thesetestsarecalledthetypetests.Thesetests

areclassifiedasfollows:

4.Shortcircuittests:

(i)Makingcapacitytest.

(ii)Breakingcapacitytest.

(iii)Shorttimecurrenttest.

(iv)Operatingdutytes

4.Dielectrictests:

(i)Powerfrequencytest:

(a)Oneminutedrywithstandtest.

(b)Oneminutewetwithstandtest.

(ii)Impulsevoltagedrywithstandtest.

5.Thermaltest.

4.Mechanicaltest

Oncea particular design is found satisfactory, a large number of similar C.Bs. are manufactured

formarketing.EverypieceofC.B.isthentestedbeforeputtingintoservice.Thesetestsareknownas

routinetests.Withthesetestsitispossibletofindoutifincorrectassemblyorinferiorqualitymaterial hasbeen

usedforaprovendesignequipment.Thesetestsareclassifiedas(i)operationtests,(ii)millivoltdroptests,(iii

)powerfrequencyvoltagetestsatmanufacturer’spremises,and(iv)power

frequencyvoltagetestsaftererectiononsite.

Wewilldiscussfirstthetypetests.Inthatalsowewilldiscusstheshortcircuittestsafterthe

otherthreetests.

DielectricTests

Thegeneraldielectriccharacteristicsofanycircuitbreakerorswitchgearunitdependuponthebasic

designi.e.clearances, bushing materials, etc. upon correctness and accuracy in assembly and upon the

quality of materials used. For a C.B. these factors are checked from the viewpoint of their ability to

withstand over voltages at the normal service voltage and abnormal voltages during lightning or other

phenomenon.

Thetestvoltageisappliedforaperiodofoneminutebetween(i)phaseswiththebreakerclosed,

(ii)phasesandearthwithC.B.open,and(iii)acrosstheterminalswithbreakeropen.Withthisthe

breakermustnotflashoverorpuncture.Thesetestsarenormallymadeonindoorswitchgear.Forsuch

C.Bstheimpulsetestsgenerallyareunnecessarybecauseitisnotexposedtoimpulsevoltageofavery

highorder.Thehighfrequencyswitchingsurgesdooccurbuttheeffectoftheseincablesystemsused



forindoorswitchgeararefoundtobesafelywithstoodbytheswitchgearifithaswithstoodthenormal

frequencytest.

Sincetheoutdoorswitchgeariselectricallyexposed,theywillbesubjectedtoovervoltages

causedbylightning.Theeffectofthesevoltagesismuchmoreseriousthanthepowerfrequencyvoltages

inservice.Therefore,thisclassofswitchgearissubjectedinadditiontopowerfrequencytests,the

impulsevoltagetests.

Thetestvoltageshouldbeastandard1/50µsecwave,thepeakvalueofwhichisspecified according to

the rated voltage of the breaker. A higher impulse voltage is specified for non-effectively

groundedsystemthanthoseforsolidlygroundedsystem.Thetestvoltagesareappliedbetween(i)each pole and

earth in turn with the breaker closed and remaining phases earthed, and (ii) between all terminals on

one side of the breaker and all the other terminals earthed, with the breaker open. The specified

voltagesarewithstandvaluesi.e.thebreakershouldnotflashoverfor10applicationsofthewave.

Normallythistestiscarriedoutwithwavesofboththepolarities.

Thewetdielectrictestisusedforoutdoorswitchgear.Inthis,theexternalinsulationissprayed

fortwominuteswhiletheratedservicevoltageisapplied;thetestovervoltageisthenmaintainedfor

30secondsduringwhichnoflashovershouldoccur.Theeffectofrainonexternalinsulationispartly

beneficial,insofarasthesurfaceistherebycleaned,butisalsoharmfuliftheraincontainsimpurities.

ThermalTests

Thesetestsaremadetocheckthethermalbehaviourofthebreakers.Inthistesttheratedcurrent

throughallthreephasesoftheswitchgearispassedcontinuouslyforaperiodlongenoughtoachieve

steadystateconditions.Temperaturereadingsareobtainedbymeansofthermocoupleswhosehotjunc- tions

areplacedinappropriatepositions.Thetemperatureriseaboveambient,ofconductors,must

normallynotexceed40°Cwhentheratednormalcurrentislessthan800ampsand50°Cifitis800

ampsandabove.

Anadditionalrequirementinthetypetestisthemeasurementofthecontactresistancesbetween

theisolatingcontactsandbetweenthemovingandfixedcontacts.Thesepointsaregenerallythemain

sourcesofexcessiveheatgeneration.Thevoltagedropacrossthebreakerpoleismeasuredfordifferent

valuesofd.c.currentwhichisameasureoftheresistanceofcurrentcarryingpartsandhencethatof contacts.



MechanicalTests

AC.B.mustopenandcloseatthecorrectspeedandperformsuchoperationswithoutmechanical failure. The

breaker mechanism is, therefore, subjected to a mechanical endurance type test involving

repeatedopeningandclosingofthebreaker.B.S.116:1952requires500suchoperationswithout

failureandwithnoadjustmentofthemechanism.Somemanufacturefeelthatasmanyas20,000

operationsmaybereachedbeforeanyusefulinformationregardingthepossiblecausesoffailuremay

beobtained.Aresultingchangeinthematerialordimensionsofaparticularcomponentmayconsider-

ablyimprovethelifeandefficiencyofthemechanism.

ShortCircuitTests

ThesetestsarecarriedoutinshortcircuittestingstationstoprovetheratingsoftheC.Bs.Before

discussingthetestsitispropertodiscussabouttheshortcircuittestingstations.

Therearetwotypesoftestingstations;(i)fieldtype,and(ii)laboratorytype.

In caseoffieldtypestationsthepowerrequiredfortestingisdirectlytakenfromalargepower

system.Thebreakertobetestedisconnectedtothesystem.Whereasthismethodoftestingiseconomi-

calforhighvoltageC.Bs.itsuffersfromthefollowingdrawbacks:

4.Thetestscannotberepeatedlycarriedoutforresearchanddevelopmentasitdisturbsthe

wholenetwork.

4.Thepoweravailabledependsuponthelocationofthetestingstations,loadingconditions,

installedcapacity,etc.

5.Testconditionslikethedesiredrecoveryvoltage,theRRRVetc.cannotbeachievedcon- veniently.

In caseoflaboratorytestingthepowerrequiredfortestingisprovidedbyspeciallydesigned

generators.Thismethodhasthefollowingadvantages:

4.Testconditionssuchascurrent,voltage,powerfactor,restrikingvoltagescanbecontrolled

accurately.

4.Severalindirecttestingmethodscanbeused.

5.Testscanberepeatedandhenceresearchanddevelopmentoverthedesignispossible.

Thelimitationsofthismethodarethecostandthelimitedpoweravailabilityfortestingthe breakers.

Fig.8.5Circuitfordirecttesting



HereXG=generatorreactance,S

1 andS

2aremasterandmakeswitchesrespectively.RandXare

theresistanceandreactanceforlimitingthecurrentandcontrolofp.f.,Tisthetransformer,C,R1

andR2

isthecircuitforadjustingtherestrikingvoltage.

Fortesting,breakingcapacityofthebreakerundertest,masterandbreakerundertestareclosed

first.Shortcircuitisappliedbyclosingthemakingswitch.Thebreakerundertestisopenedatthe

desiredmomentandbreakingcurrentisdeterminedfromtheoscillographasexplainedearlier.

Formakingcapacitytestthemasterandthemakeswitchesareclosedfirstandshortcircuitis applied by closing

the breaker under test. The making current is determined from the oscillograph as explainedearlier.

Questions:

1.Explaintheprocedurefortestingstringinsulator.

2.Describethearrangementofinsulatorsforperformingvarioustests.

3.Listoutvariousteststobecarriedoutoninsulatorandgiveabriefaccountofeachtest.

4. Writeashortnoteonthecablesamplepreparationbeforeitissubjectedtovarioustests.

5.Listoutvariousteststobecarriedoutonacableandgiveabriefaccountofeachtest.

6. Explainbrieflyvariousteststobecarriedoutonabushing.

7. Explain the function of discharge device used in a power capacitor and explain the test for efficacy of this

device.

8. Explaintheprocedureforperforming(i)IRtest(ii)Stabilitytestand(iii)Partialdischargetest.

9. Explainbrieflyimpulsetestingofpowertransformer.

10. DescribevariousteststobecarriedoutonC.B.



ShortCircuitTestPlants

The essentialcomponentsofatypicaltestplantarerepresentedinFig.8.4.Theshort-circuitpoweris supplied

by specially designed short-circuit generators driven by induction motors. The magnitude of voltage can

be varied by adjusting excitation of the generator or the transformer ratio. A plant master-

breakerisavailabletointerruptthetestshortcircuitcurrentifthetestbreakershouldfail.Initiationof

theshortcircuitmaybebythemasterbreaker,butisalwaysdonebyamakingswitchwhichisspecially

designedforclosingonveryheavycurrentsbutnevercalledupontobreakcurrents.Thegenerator

windingmaybearrangedforeitherstarordeltaconnectionaccordingtothevoltagerequired;by

furtherdividingthewindingintotwosectionswhichmaybeconnectedinseriesorparallel,achoiceof

fourvoltagesisavailable.Inadditiontothistheuseofresistorsandreactorsinseriesgivesawide

rangeofcurrentandpowerfactors.Thegenerator,transformerandreactorsarehousedtogether,usu-

allyinthebuildingaccommodatingthetestcells.

Generator

Fig.8.4Schematicdiagramofatypicaltestplant

Theshortcircuitgeneratorisdifferentindesignfromtheconventionalpowerstation.Thecapacityof

thesegeneratorsmaybeoftheorderof2000MVAandveryrigidbracingoftheconductorsandcoil

endsisnecessaryinviewofthehighelectromagneticforcespossible.Thelimitingfactorforthemaxi-

mumoutputcurrentistheelectromagneticforce.Sincetheoperationofthegeneratorisintermittent,

thisneednotbeveryefficient.Thereductionofventilationenablesthemainfluxtobeincreasedand

permitstheinclusionofextracoilendsupports.Themachinereactanceisreducedtoaminimum.

Immediatelybeforetheactualclosingofthemakingswitchthegeneratordrivingmotorisswitched

outandtheshortcircuitenergyistakenfromthekineticenergyofthegeneratorset.Thisisdoneto

avoidanydisturbancetothesystemduringshortcircuit.However,inthiscaseitisnecessarytocom-

pensateforthedecrementingeneratorvoltagecorrespondingtothediminishinggeneratorspeeddur-

ingthetest.Thisis achievedbyadjustingthegeneratorfieldexcitationtoincreaseatasuitablerate

duringtheshortcircuitperiod.

ResistorsandReactors

Theresistorsareusedtocontrolthep.f.ofthecurrentandtocontroltherateofdecayofd.c.component

ofcurrent.Thereareanumberofcoilsperphaseandbycombinationsofseriesandparallelconnec-

tions,desiredvalueofresistanceand/orreactancecanbeobtained.

Capacitors

Theseareusedforbreakinglinechargingcurrentsandforcontrollingtherateofre-strikingvoltage.

ShortCircuitTransformers

Theleakagereactanceofthetransformerislowsoastowithstandrepeatedshortcircuits.Sincethey



areinuseintermittently,theydonotposeanycoolingproblem.Forvoltagehigherthanthegenerated



voltages,usuallybanksofsinglephasetransformersareemployed.IntheshortcircuitstationatBhopal

therearethreesinglephaseunitseachof11kV/76kV.Thenormalratingis30MVAbuttheirshort

circuitcapacityis475MVA.

MasterC.Bs.

Thesebreakersareprovidedasbackupwhichwilloperate,shouldthebreakerundertestfailtooper-

ate.Thisbreakerisnormallyairblasttypeandthecapacityismorethanthebreakerundertest.After

everytest,itisolatesthetestbreakerfromthesupplyandcanhandlethefullshortcircuitofthetest circuit.

MakeSwitch

Themakeswitchisclosedafterotherswitchesareclosed.Theclosingoftheswitchisfast,sureand

withoutchatter.Inordertoavoidbouncingandhenceweldingofcontacts,ahighairpressureismain-

tainedinthechamber.Theclosingspeedishighsothatthecontactsarefullyclosedbeforetheshort

circuitcurrentreachesitspeakvalue.

TestProcedure

Beforethetestisperformedallthecomponentsareadjustedtosuitablevaluessoastoobtaindesired

valuesofvoltage,current,rateofriseofrestrikingvoltage,p.f.etc.Themeasuringcircuitsarecon-

nectedandoscillographloopsarecalibrated.

Duringthetestseveraloperationsareperformedinasequenceinashorttimeoftheorderof

0.2sec. This is done with the help of a drum switch with several pairs of contacts which is rotated with

amotor.Thisdrumwhenrotatedclosesandopensseveralcontrolcircuitsaccordingtoacertainse-

quence.Inoneofthebreakingcapacityteststhefollowingsequencewasobserved:

(i)Afterrunningthemotortoaspeedthesupplyisswitchedoff.

(ii)Impulseexcitationisswitchedon.

(iii)MasterC.B.isclosed.

(iv)Oscillographisswitchedon.

(v)Makeswitchisclosed.

(vi)C.B.undertestisopened.

(vii)MasterC.B.isopened.

(viii)Excitercircuitisswitchedoff.

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· PDF fileHigh Voltage Engineering 10EE73 Dept. Of EEE, SJBIT Page 1 High Voltage Engineering Syllabus PART - A UNIT - 1 INTRODUCTION: Introduction to HV